November 03, 2013

Arts & Letters Letter from America

Kartik 19, 1420 Zilhajj 28, 1434 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 220

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Rebuilding lives after Rana Plaza

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2013 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

HC: Registering Jamaat unlawful

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Lata Mangeshkar endorses Narendra Modi

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IT IS NOT CRICKET

Allowing a party time extensions for complying with rules was ‘astonishing’ and ‘unethical,’ court says in full verdict

n Nazmus Sakib In its full verdict on Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration released yesterday, the High Court observed that the Election Commission had not registered the party in 2008 “lawfully” even though its charter contained elements contrary to the constitution and the election rules.

It also said Jamaat had no moral right to do politics in Bangladesh for the atrocities it had committed during the 1971 Liberation War. Jamaat’s counsel Belayet Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune that the party would appeal with a full bench of the Appellate Division after getting certified copy of the full verdict.

Election Commissioner Abu hafiz said there was no scope not to obey the High Court verdict. “We will immediately implement the decision after getting the certified copy,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

In the short verdict delivered on August 1, the court cancelled Jamaat’s registration “by majority view.”

On August 5, the chamber judge re-

jected a plea by Jamaat seeking a stay order on the High Court verdict.

The former EC, led by ATM Shamsul Huda, gave Jamaat registration only days ahead of the ninth parliamentary elections that held on December 29.

On January 25, 2009, challenging the EC’s decision, Syed Rezaul Hoque of Tariqat Federation and 24 other individuals filed a writ petition seeking the court’s order to cancel Jamaat’s registration saying that several provisions of its charter had been contrary to the county’s constitution and the RPO. The judgement says: “Jamaat and EC time and again argued that the registration was provisional but we could not find any provision in the RPO [Representation of the People Order] to accord provisional registration and on the other hand in the ‘registration certificate’ itself there is no such stipulation that it is a provisional certificate.

“The stipulation was that complying with the mandatory requirements, for example article 90C, with a provisional constitution, a political party may be registered subject to making it compliant  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

Police charge baton on ticket seekers for the Bangladesh-New Zealand third ODI at Narayanganj’s Chashara intersection yesterday

Yet another 60-hour hartal n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

After a five-day pause, the BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance has announced another 60-hour nationwide hartal from tomorrow as, what it reasoned, their demand for national elections under a non-party government went unheeded.

The hartal will be observed from 6am tomorrow till 6pm Wednesday, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced at a press briefing yesterday at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office.

The announcement followed a secretary-level meeting of the alliance partners where they finalised the action programme. The hartal coincides with the primary and junior school final examinations beginning tomorrow across the country.

About two million junior school certificate and junior dakhil certificate examinees and three million primary terminal examinees are registered for the exams, beginning November 4, 6 and 20 respectively.

Asked whether the junior certificate exams will be kept out of hartal purview, Mirza Fakhrul evaded a direct

answer.

He said ambulance, vehicles of media houses and utility agencies including fire brigade, those carrying hajj pilgrims will remain out of hartal purview.

“Any change will be informed later on.”

The BNP’s policymaking body at its October 29 meeting discussed a proposal of a three-day road, rail and waterway blockade from November 4 to 6.

But on the following day some alliance partners pressed for another 60hour hartal, which was finally chosen at yesterday’s meeting.

“The country’s 90% people want election under a non-partisan interim government, but the government is moving forward with its plan to hold polls unilaterally. That’s why we’re compelled to enforce hartal,” Mirza Fakhrul explained at the briefing.

Party insiders cited another reason for resorting to hartal.

A senior BNP leader, who is responsible for implementing the action programme in the capital, told the Dhaka Tribune that they dropped the idea of blockade programmes weighing the strength of the city unit BNP. “We cannot sustain in the field even

for an hour, then how will we make a three-day blockade programme successful?” he said.

Even Chairperson Khaleda Zia was not happy with the performance of the Dhaka city unit BNP, he informed.

Alliance leaders believe that the door for a dialogue with the government still remains wide open even after announcement of a fresh spate of 60-hour hartal.

Fakhrul warned the government against any attempt to disrupt the “peaceful” hartal programme, saying then the government will have to bear the responsibility for any untoward situation.

The opposition alliance observed 60 hours countrywide hartals on October 27 to October 29. At least 20 people were killed and scores of others injured during the hartal. Both the government and the opposition blamed each other for the damages caused to lives and property.

Accusing the government of repressing the opposition leaders and activists, Fakhrul said more than 6,000 activists were arrested and cases filed against around 100,000 opposition men.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

HISTORIC JAIL KILLING DAY BNP 'ready for unconditional talks' n Tribune Report Main opposition BNP has agreed to hold “unconditional” secretary general level talks with the ruling Awami League over the polls-time government issue, claimed FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed.

“This message will be conveyed to the prime minister in a day or two so that a dialogue can kick off,” Akram told reporters after a closed door meeting with opposition chief Khaleda Zia late last night.

However, Adviser to the BNP chairperson Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury did not make any comment about agreeing to take part in unconditional talks; but said the party chief welcomed the businessmen’s initiative.

“This initiative might create positive environment for talks.”

Regarding the 60-hour hartal beginning tomorrow, Khosru said there was no connection between a dialogue and the hartal.

Meeting sources said when the business leaders had asked for withdrawal of hartal, Khaleda Zia shot back saying  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Families find solace in ending of impunity n Kamran Reza Chowdhury

Consolation is the only thing that the Supreme Court verdict ending the culture of impunity, brings to the families of the four uncompromising national leaders, who were eliminated from the country’s political scene 38 years ago through the infamous jail killings.

Clockwise: Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, AHM Quamaruzzaman and Captain M Monsur Ali

The children of the four national leaders say at least they should not see the killers move freely, as has happened during the rule of the BNP and Jamaat-led government.

The Supreme Court judgment on April 30 handed down capital punishment to three ex-army personnel and life sentence to 12 others for killing Tajuddin Ahmed, Bangladesh’s first prime minister; Syed Nazrul Islam, the first vice-president, Captain Monsur Ali and AHM Quamaruzzaman inside the Dhaka Central Jail in the early hours of November 3, 1975.

The persons finally getting capital punishment are: Risalder (retd) Muslemuddin, Dafadar (dismissed) Marfat Ali Shah and Dafadar (dismissed) Abdul Hashem Mridha. All of them have been absconding for long.

The government is not clear whether they could be executed.

Ferdous Momtaz Poly, one of the four daughters of AHM Quamaruzzaman,  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Ministers to resign soon, says Suranjit n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla The incumbent ministers will soon resign to pave the way for the formation of a polls-time interim government, said Awami League Advisory Committee member Suranjit Sengupta yesterday.

“Members of the cabinet will submit their resignation letters to the prime minister soon. Then she [Sheikh Hasina] will form the interim government cabinet,” he said while addressing a discussion to mark the historic Jail Killing Day at Shilpakala Academy in the capital.

Suranjit said after the submission of resignation letters, a small size pollstime government would be formed to oversee the next general elections. “It will be an all-party government and will only supervise the election,” he said.

Expressing hope that the Election Commission would announce the polls schedule soon, Suranjit said the party’s election-related activities, includ-

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Intellectual killing case verdict today n Muktasree Chakma Sathi

ing the selling of nomination papers, would begin after the next cabinet meeting.

Pointing his finger at the leader of the opposition, the minister said: “Give us names who might be the members of the all-party polls-time government.

Talks can take place on whether you [Khaleda Zia] need any important ministry.”

He also urged the BNP chief to withdraw the hartal for the sake of dialogue, as “dialogue and movements cannot occur simultaneously.”

On the other hand, AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said the opposition leader should respond to the prime minister’s invitation soon since a participatory election is much more important than hartals.

“I am not worried about hartals. The fundamentals of politics are important to us. The main issue before us is a free, fair, credible and inclusive election,” he said at Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

“The honourable prime minister

The war crimes tribunal will deliver its verdict in the case against fugitive al-Badr leaders Chowdhury Mueen Uddin and Ashrafuzzaman Khan today for their alleged involvement with the killing of 18 intellectuals between December 11 and 15, 1971.

The International Crimes Tribunal 2 of Justice Obaidul Hasan, Justice Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Shahinur Islam set the day on Thursday. The same tribunal on June 24 indicted the two, who are believed to be in London and New York, on 11 war crimes charges.

The prosecution on April 28 submitted 16 formal charges against the two after investigation.

The trial began on July 15 and the tribunal on September 30 kept the case in CAV stage (Curia Advisari Vult, a Latin legal term meaning the court wishes to deliver the verdict at a later date).

Twenty-five witnesses have testified against Mueen and Ashraf. The tribunal also allowed submissions of four deceased witnesses. Two defence counsels appointed by the state said

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Charges that Mueen, Ashraf are facing Chakma Sathi and n Muktasree Udisa Islam The war crimes tribunal today will deliver the verdict in the case of Chowdhury Mueen Uddin and Ashrafuzzaman Khan for their alleged involvement with the killing of intellectuals at the fag-end of the 1971 Liberation War. Absconding Mueen and Ashraf who are believed to be in London and New York now are facing 11 charges.

Charge 1: Abduction and killing of journalist Siraj Uddin Hossain

Following the instruction of Mueen and Ashraf, seven-eight armed al-Badr men around 3-3:30pm on December 11, 1971 abducted journalist Siraj Uddin after forcibly entering his house at Chamelibagh, Paltan of Dhaka. Later he was taken to an unknown place by a minibus. His body was never found.

Charge 2: Abetting in abduction and killing of journalist Syed Nazmul Haque

Some 10 armed al-Badr men led and being accompanied by Mueen and Ashraf around 4-4:30am on December 11, 1971 abducted prominent journalist Nazmul, then staff reporter of Columbia Broadcasting Services, on gun point. He was also taken to an unknown place by a minibus. Later he was killed but his body could not be found.

Charge 3: Abduction and killing of journalist ANM Golam Mostafa

Between 6am and 6:30am the same day, a gang of five-six armed al-Badar men on instruction of Mueen and Ashraf abducted Golam Mostafa, the then chief reporter of the daily Purbadesh. Mueen was a reporter in the same newspaper in 1971. The abductors pretended to take him to the office of daily Purbadesh. His body was also not found.

Charge 4: Abetting in abduction and killing of journalist Nizam Uddin

At noon on December 12, 1971, a gang of armed al-Badar men following the order of Mueen and Ashraf abducted BBC reporter Nizam. His body was never found.

Charge 5: Abetting in abduction and killing of journalist Selina Parvin

Around noon of December 13, 1971, some armed al-Badar men accompanied by Mueen and Ashraf abducted editor of daily Shilalipi Selina Parvin after forcibly entering her rented house.

Her body was found on December 17 at the Rayerbazar mass killing ground.

Charge 6: Abduction and killing of eight intellectuals

Between 8am and 9:45am on December 13, around five-six armed al-Badar men accompanied by Mueen and Ashraf abducted Prof Gias Uddin Ahmed, Prof Dr Serajul Haque Khan, Dr Md Mortuza, Dr Abul Khayer, Dr Foyzul Mohiuddin, Prof Rashidul Hassan, Prof Anwar Pasha and Prof Dr Santosh Bhattacharjee from their respective residences situated on the Dhaka University campus.

Among them, the bodies of Prof Gias, Dr Mortuza, Dr Khayer, Prof Rashidul, Prof Anwar and Prof Dr Santosh were identified and recovered from Mirpur mass grave after the liberation.

Prof Gias’s name was later found listed in “Jollader Diary” (diary of the butcher), maintained by Ashraf.

Charge 7: Abduction and killing of Prof Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury

In between 12 noon and 1pm on December 14, seven-eight armed members of al-Badar force led by Mueen and Ashraf abducted Prof Mofazzal Haider from his residence in Dhaka University. The victim could recognise Mueen, who was a student of Bangla department, after his brother had removed the scarf

from Mueen’s face. He was taken by a minibus and his body could not be traced. Mofazzal’s name was also in the diary of Ashraf.

Charge 8: Abduction and killing of Prof AM Munier Chowdhury

Three-four al-Badr members around 1-1:30pm on December 14 following Mueen and Ashraf’s instruction abducted Prof Munier from his residence.

He was also taken by a minibus and later was killed. Ashraf’s diary had his name listed.

Charge 9: Abduction and killing of Shahidullah Kaiser

Around 6pm on December 14, five-six armed al-Badar men led by Mueen and Ashraf abducted the eminent journalist, then joint editor of the daily Sangbad. He was taken by a minibus and later killed. His body was never found.

Charge 10: Abduction and killing of Dr Fazle Rabbee

The physician was abducted around 2-3pm on December 15 by two-three armed al-Badar men led by Mueen and Ashraf. He was taken to Mohammad Physical Training College, infamous in 1971 for being used as a torture cell of the para militia force, by a minibus. His body was found on December 18 at the Rayerbazar mass killing field.

Charge 11: Abetting in abduction and killing of Dr Alim Chowdhury

Dr Alim was abducted around 3:304pm on December 15 from his residence at Purana Paltan by a gang of armed al-Badar men following the instruction of the accused. Al-Badr organiser Maulana Mannan used to live at the same building. Dr Alim was taken by a minibus and later was killed. On December 18, his body was recovered blindfolded from Rayerbazar mass killing field. l

BNP 'ready for unconditional talks'  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

there was no other option because the government had snatched away all the constitutional rights.

The business leaders, however, could not counter the opposition chief’s question.

A party insider, who attended the meeting, also said Khaleda Zia told the business leaders that withdrawing hartal could be a short term solution; but a long term solution was needed.

Business leaders reportedly told Khaleda that if a “third power” took over, then the businessmen would have to suffer. “So, please compromise for the sake of businesses,” the leaders urged the former premier.

In reply, Khaleda reportedly asked the business leaders to stand strong against the government’s move to hold unilateral polls.

The FBCCI president hoped that the two parties would reach a consensus over the polls-time government issue for the sake of the country and its economy.

M Atiqul Islam, president of garments exporters’ body BGMEA, said: “I personally request the BNP chairperson to keep the readymade garment sector out the purview of the hartal.

He also said the business community wanted to see an immediate end to the present political crisis in the greater interest of the national economy and also the country’s

Families find solace in ending  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

told the Dhaka Tribune that the 2004 verdict was a “farce.”

“We can at least see justice in the end, does not matter if the judgment is executable or not. The verdict will satisfy us, if implemented.”

She said her mother Jahanara Quamaruzzaman went through a very bad time since the murder of her husband.

Poly said the new generation did not bother about the jail killings. Sometimes, especially ahead of November 3, they expressed sympathy for them.

“This is our pride that we are the children of a very honest leader. My father was not like today’s leaders who focus mainly on making money,” she said.

Mahjabeen Ahmed, one of the daughters of the slain Tajuddin Ahmed, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Our opinion is that the process has started, and we hope we will see its implementation soon;” referring to the fact that the persons involved in the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman also took part in the murder.

She also referred to the reconciliation in post-apartheid South Africa where the minority white people confessed to a truth commission that they had committed “wrongs” to the majority black people who pardoned the perpetrators for national sake.

“So, the verdict [in the Bangabandhu killing case] has earmarked the killers and crimes committed,” she said.

The Awami League government initiated the trial of the jail killings the last time it was in power. But things changed after the BNP-led government took over in 2001.

On October 20, 2004, a Dhaka court awarded gallows to resalder (retd) Muslemuddin, dafadar (dismissed) Marfat Ali Shah and dafadar (dismissed) Abdul Hashem Mridha.

The court also awarded life time

to 12 others: Lt Col (dismissed) Syed Faruk Rahman, Lt Col (retd) Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan and Major (retd) Bazlul Huda, Lt Col (dismissed) Khondaker Abdur Rashid, Lt Col (relieved) Shariful Haq Dalim, Lt Col (retd) SHMB Noor Chowdhury, Major (Retd) AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed, Lt Col (retd) AM Rashed Chowdhury, Major (relieved) Ahmed Shariful Hossain, Captain (retd) Abdul Majed, Captain (relieved) Kismat Hasem and Captain (relieved) Nazmul Hossain.

Of the 12 convicts, four – Lt Col (dismissed) Syed Farooq-ur Rahman, Lt Col (retd) Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Maj (retd) Bazlul Huda and Maj (retd) AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed – have already been executed in the Bangabandhu killing case.

Former BNP leader KM Obaidur, Shah Moazzem Hossain, Nurul Islam Monzoor, Taheruddin Thakur and the then additional foreign secretary Khairuzzaman, who managed bail soon after the BNP-led four-party coalition came to power, were relieved of the charges in 2004.

Their acquittal angered the family members of the four national leaders.

On August 28, 2008, the High Court upheld the capital punishment of Muslemuddin and acquitted Marfat and Hashem. It also acquitted Farooq, Shahriar, Mohiuddin and Bazlul Huda, not giving any decision on rest of them.

Soon after assuming in power, the Awami League government filed an appeal with the Supreme Court in 2009 against the high court verdict.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have delivered separate messages to commemorate the jail killing of the four national leaders.

In her statement, the prime minister said the successors of the killers of Bangabandhu and the four national leaders were now trying to foil the trial of the war criminals. l

future.

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other party leaders, President of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) Rokia Afzal Rahman, former FBCCI presidents Abdul Awal Mintoo, Yousuf Abdullah Harun, AK Azad, and Annisul Huq, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Sabur Khan were present at the meeting.

On Octotber 28, the businessmen held a meeting to reach a political solution to the imminent confrontation over the upcoming elections due early next year.

They urged the Awami League and the BNP to find a common ground regarding the election. l

A file photo shows a plaque commemorating the four national leaders Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Captain M Mansur Ali, and A H M Quamruzzaman, who were killed on November 3, 1975, inside the Dhaka Central Jail. The jail authorities have turned the cell, inside which the leaders were killed, into a museum DHAKA TRIBUNE

Dhaka Central Jail to give way to museums n Kailash Sarkar The Dhaka Central Jail that inherits the rich history of ancient Dhaka and Bengal, is expected to be shifted to Keraniganj in the outskirts of the capital, leaving behind the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum and the National Four Leaders Memorial Museum inside.

After the shifting, the museums will be opened for people and the remaining area of the jail will be turned into a park, serving the need for open spaces in the stuffy older part of Dhaka.

Brig Gen Ashraful Islam Khan, inspector general of prisons, said: “The museums inside the Dhaka Central Jail will be opened for the mass people in the first week of December.”

“As part of the process for opening up the museums for people, the shifting of prisoners from the existing jail to the new facility in Keraniganj will start at the end of this month [November],” the IG-Prisons said.

“As it [shifting] would take quite a bit of time, the process will continue even after the opening up of the museums.”

Ashraful also said the jail buildings in Keraniganj have the capacity to accommodate around 5,000 inmates.

At present, the Dhaka Central Jail has around 3,000 prisoners.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the museums on May 8, 2010.

The Bangabandhu Memorial Museum was established encompassing the Dewani Cell where he was detained during the Pakistani regime.

The Four National Leaders Memorial Museum – built in the memory of Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed,

M Mansur Ali and AHM Qamruzzaman, all slain on November 3, 1975 inside the jail – was built in a separate structure named “Mrityunjoy.”

The assassins, believed to be the masterminds of the coup that led to the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, gunned down the four leaders just three months after Bangabandhu and most of his family members were killed.

After the PM inaugurated the museums, separate sculptures of Bangabandhu and the four leaders had been installed in front of the respective museums.

Before British rule, there was a Mughal fort at the site of the current jail.

During the first few years of the 19th century, the fort was renovated, and turned into a jail. Until 1836, when the facility was turned into the Dhaka Central Jail, the Kotowali police station was co-located there. According to jail officials, objects used by history makers like Masterda Surya Sen and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman would be on display at the museum.

Built on 36 acres of land, the central jail at Nazimuddin Road in downtown Dhaka also witnessed many historical episodes.

The facility housed many political prisoners, especially during the Language Movement of 1952, the Six-Point Movement and the Liberation War of 1971.

The process of shifting the Dhaka Central Jail has been going on in phases since 2003. A portion of the jail was shifted to Gazipur after the establishment of four separate jails in Kashimpur.

The project for constructing jails in Keraniganj on 194 acres of land was approved in the 2005-06 fiscal. The construction work began in September 2007. l

invited her [Khaleda] and we are waiting for her,” he said, adding that the door for dialogue was always open and that the hartal was not a barrier to holding the dialogue.

Responding to another query, Ashraf said: “The next government will assume office in January.”

Ashraf, also the LGRD minister, said confrontation and violence could not bring any solution.

“Crises were resolved earlier through talks, and in the present, it is possible to resolve the crisis through talks too,” he said. l

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He demanded immediate release of the detained leaders and activists and withdrawal of the cases.

Fakhrul alleged though the government was talking about dialogue, they (government) did not want a dialogue to really take place, and that was why staging many negative dramas.

He alleged the leak of the Prime Minister and opposition leader’s telephone conversation is illegal and immoral as the conversation was leaked without prior permission of leader of the opposition.

“The government has leaked the

Miazee and n Manik Mohammad Zakaria The Election Commission has no other option but to follow the High Court verdict on Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration, a commissioner said yesterday.

“We must obey the High Court verdict regarding the Jamaat’s registration,” Election commissioner Mohammad Abu Hafiz told the Dhaka Tribune.

The High Court yesterday released the full verdict on Jamaat’s registration pronounced on August 1. But the commission is yet to get the copy of the verdict, the commissioner said.

Jashim Uddin Sarker, legal affairs secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami, said if Election Commission said Jamaat-e-Islami was an illegal party, this would not be a matured statement.

He suggested that the EC should wait for the decision of the Appellate Division. “It is a split verdict and judges have given certificate to appeal without leave to the Appellate Division against the verdict,” the Jamaat leader said.

Citing Article 103 of the constitution, he said: “It says the Appellate Division shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine appeals from judgments, decrees, orders or sentences of the High Court Division.” l

Intellectual killing  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

conversation intentionally. They did it to shun the path of dialogue and compromise.” The BNP leader said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has presented a proposal on polls-time government before the nation on October 21 and urged the government to take the initiative for holding dialogue.

“I also wrote to the Awami League general secretary for initiating the talks. Our members also presented the proposal in the parliament but the treasury bench leaders ruled out the proposal criticising bitterly. So we were forced into movement,” he said. l

despite their repeated attempts to contact the two, they had failed, and thus could not get any witness in favour of their clients.

This is the second trial that was held in absentia under the same tribunal.

Earlier, the tribunal sentenced former Jamaat-e-Islami member Abul Kalam Azad alias Bachchu Razakar to death after trying him in absentia.

According to the indictment order, both of the accused face allegations for their active participation with the killing, abduction and extermination of 18 intellectuals in Dhaka at the dawn of the country’s birth.

The prosecution’s probe report says among the 18 intellectuals, nine were Dhaka University teachers, six journalists and three physicians who include Shahidullah Kaiser and Selina Parvin. l

Sarker agreed to erase six sections of the charter which the EC had identified as against the constitution and the RPO. He then submitted a charter penning through the inconsistent words and sentences in red ink and promising to drop them from the final document.

But the printed charter that was eventually placed with the EC contained many of the words and sentences that were inconsistent with the country’s constitution.

The party also changed its name to Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami before the polls. Earlier, “Bangladesh” was put at the end of the name.

On December 4 last year, Jamaat submitted a printed charter (49th edition) to the current Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad-led EC. In the full verdict, the judges criticised the EC for giving Jamaat scopes to submit a provisional charter and several deadlines to comply with the RPO. The judges said allowing a particular party with such benefits was “astonishing” and “unethical.”

The court observed that the EC and the party had communication between them over revising the charter. But as

per the RPO, the EC has no authority to play the role as “guardian or adviser” of a party by sending letters suggesting revision, amendment or inclusion. It is proved that the EC had been engaged in “unlawful” activities by allowing the party for years to rectify Jamaat’s charter. “Such activity is called ‘fraud on the statue’ in legal terms.”

Though Jamaat has changed its name several times, the judgement said: “Its name Jamaat-e-Islam originates from British India followed by its existence in Pakistan and it is the same old product bottled in a new bottle under a new emblem almost with the same persons those who were in the fore-front against the independence of Bangladesh and fought against the liberation forces of Bangladesh.”

The war crimes tribunal’s investigation agency has begun probe into Jamaat’s involvement in war crimes as a party.

Several Jamaat leaders including its former chief Ghulam Azam, treated as the kingpin of collaborators, have been sentenced by the war tribunal for their involvement in crimes against humanity. l

Ministers to resign Yet another 60-hour hartal  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

EC to follow HC verdict on Jamaat

HC: Registering Jamaat unlawful  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

within six months [later the time limited extended to 12 months by amending the RPO in parliament].

“The relevant provision very clearly stipulated that the EC neither had the authority to register Jamaat with such a non-compliant charter, nor it ever had the authority to request Jamaat to amend its constitution to make it compliant since its registration from its inception was done without any lawful authority.”

The judgement concludes: “In the result, the rule is made absolute. It is hereby declared that the registration of Jamaat given to it by the Election Commission on November 4, 2008 was done without lawful authority and is of no effect.”

It is learnt that Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque had favoured cancelling Jamaat’s registration, while Justice M Moazzam Husain directed the EC to dispose of the matter in accordance with the law.

Justice Moazzam said though the party had not any moral right to do politics for its reprehensible role in the Liberation War, the High Court had no authority to rescind its registration, saying that only the EC could do so.

Following the short verdict, the chief election commissioner said: “As per the election laws, if a party’s registration is cancelled no one can participate in the elections using that party’s symbol. The party members can, however, take part in the polls as independent candidates. But they will not be able to join any alliance.”

The EC did not allow Jamaat to contest in Barguna 2 by-polls held on October 3.

Following the 2009 petition, a two-member High Court bench on January 27 issued a rule asking the EC to explain why Jamaat’s registration should not be declared “ultra vires” to the constitution.

In reply, the EC had admitted that some provisions of Jamaat’s charter were against the country’s constitution and the RPO. But Jamaat claimed that the EC had not done anything illegal by registering the party.

After Jamaat had got registration, the EC issued a total of five letters asking it for amendments to the charter constitution so it could fully continue operating as a political entity.

At the time of registration, Jamaat’s Legal Affairs Secretary Jasim Uddin

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Sunday, November 3, 2013

RMG worker’s death leads to road blockade

Quader wants ‘formalin free politics’

n Our Correspondent

n Mohosinul Karim

RMG workers yesterday blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway and vandalised vehicles following the death of a fellow worker in a road accident at the Mill Gate area in Tongi.

The agitation left at least 10 pedestrians and workers injured as police charged with batons and fired tear-gas shells and rubber bullets to bring the situation under control.

Witnesses said Sharmin Akter, 30, a worker of Top to Bottom Fashion Limited, was hit by a BRTC bus at the Teestar Gate area while crossing the road.

She was rushed to Tongi Hospital in critical condition and was later shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. She died on her way to the DMCH. Assistant Superintendent of Police (media) of Gazipur Industrial Police Shamsur Rahman said the injured RMG worker died around 11:45pm.

Officer-in-Charge of Gazipur Industrial Police Manik Mia told the Dhaka Tribune; at least 2,000 agitated garment workers blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway after news of the incident spread.

They vandalised at least 50 vehicles, the OC said, adding that a clash between law enforcers and agitated workers broke out at the Munno Nagar area as police tried to disperse the workers.

Vehicular movement remained suspended for two hours and the road was cleared around 10:30am when police took the situation under control by firing teargas shells and rubber bullets, he added.

Additional law enforcers were also deployed at the area to avert further untoward incidents, the OC said.

Tongi police station Sub-Inspector Moniruzzaman said three RMG factories were closed for the day.

It is alleged that most BRTC bus drivers, of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Gazipur, do not have driving licenses. Earlier, traffic police seized many buses and captured drivers for not having driving licenses in the district. l

Communications Minister Obaidul Quader urged politicians to save politics from poisonous politicians.

He said some of the politicians are more dangerous than poisonous formalin. They are trying to contaminate the politics of the country.

Politics of Bangladesh should be free from those poisonous politicians along with the kitchen market from formalin.

The minister made his remark on Saturday while delivering his speech on the occasion of declaring the Banani Kitchen Market to be formalin free.

Obaidul at the programme handed over formalin kits to the kitchen market authorities. The FBCCI organised the programme.

He said the users or operators of the formalin free machines must be formalin free.

“It is not so important who won or who lost in the telephonic conversation between the prime minister and the opposition leader. It’s more important to win the democracy of the country,” he added.

The machine has been delivered by the FBCCI to ensure safe and formalin free commodities for the people.

FBCCI President Kazi Akramuddin Ahmed, Vice president Helal Uddin and Managing Director of the Prime Bank Kamal Khan Chowdhury also attended the programme. l

Five held in JamaatShibir clash with cops

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Five activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir were arrested in Chittagong yesterday, following clashes between Jamaat-Shibir men and police at Lohagara upazila in the port city in the afternoon.

Md Shahjahan, officer-in-charge at Lohagara police station, told Dhaka Tribune that a procession, led by Jamaat lawmaker ANM Shamsul Islam, started the violence at around 4pm.

The clashes ensued after the police tried to disperse activists by charging truncheons, he informed.

Police sources also said the Jamaat-Shibir men blasted at least 12 crude bombs and vandalised a wooden-boat, the electoral symbol of Awami League, which was set up on a roadside in the area.

The Lohagara OC said five Jamaat-Shibir men – Helal Uddin, Belal Hasan, Al Rahman, Ziaur Rahman and Al Amin – were arrested from the area in connection with the violence. No casualty was reported, he also added. l

Ganajagaran Mancha brings out a procession in the capital’s Shahbagh intersection demanding a ban on Jamaat-Shibir politics yesterday

Lending rate drops slightly due to election, security uncertainty n Jebun Nesa Alo Years of efforts by the central bank has yielded little result in lowering the rates of interest and narrowing down the gap between lending and deposit rates, which is known as the “spread” in banking terms.

But a shrinkage in demand from the loans market, due to the unpredictability over the polls-time situation, coupled with the growing volatility on the political front, has automatically achieved the goal.

An almost barren investment environment has forced the banks to be a little bit generous, lowering their interest rates by a few basis points, which pulled the deposit rates too, eventually reducing the spread.

Bangladesh Bank data show the spread of private commercial banks came down to 5.25% while the average spread stood at 5.01% in September from 5.34% and 5.13% respectively in June.

The figures, released on Thursday, revealed the country’s commercial banks have reduced their lending rates slightly in September due to the draughty investment environment during the ongoing political unrest.

In September, the average lending rate of a private commercial banks was 14.25% while the deposit rate was 9%, which back in June stood at 14.44% and 9.1% respectively.

Meanwhile, the spread of 15 private commercial banks out of 54 remains above the central bank’s permissible limit of 5% compared to 19 banks in June.

“Banks’ lending rates are seeing a downward trend and it will decrease more,” said Managing Director of NCC bank Nurul Amin. “ By December, the spread of almost 90% of banks will come down to 5% due to the reduction of lending rates,” he said.

“Banks have to cut lending rates as business is going slow due to the polit-

ical unrest, lower income than expenses and availability of foreign loans.

Already a slump in business has hit the banks’ profit and EPS (earning per share),” he said.

On the other hand, the spread of foreign banks averaged at 8.59% and among the private commercial banks, Brac bank’s spread was the highest at 9.10% in September.

“The spread has already declined and Bangladesh Bank will ask those banks who still maintain above the limit spread to bring it down to 5%,” said Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor SK Sur Chowdhury.

In the meantime, the interbank call money rate remained stable at a range of between 7% and 7.5%, showing signs of adequate liquidity in the money market.

The call money rate came down to its lowest at 7% in last couple of weeks, and went as high as 8% in the last year.

However, it rose to 9% for just over a

Petition filed over disclosure of phone conversation n Nazmus Sakib A Supreme Court lawyer yesterday lodged a writ petition with the High Court seeking directives for taking legal actions against those who “illegally” recorded and disclosed the content of the phone conversation between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. The petitioner, Abdullah Al Baki, urged the court to pass an ad-interim order to cease further publication of the conversation that took place on October 26. The petition also sought a rule asking why the disclosure should

not be declared “unconstitutional.”

“Divulging the conversation was a violation of the constitution,” Baki told the Dhaka Tribune.

According to article 43 of the constitution, every citizen shall have the right to privacy of his/her correspondence and other means of communication.

The petitioner said: “The conversation leak makes the possibility of a dialogue [between the two parties] uncertain, hence, pushes the country towards violence. So, for serving the interest of the public, I registered the plea.”

The information secretary, communication and technology secretary,

home secretary, Bangladesh television, the Association of Television Channel Owners, the National Press Club, the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, the Dhaka Journalists Union and the Dhaka Reporters Unity have been made respondents to the plea.

After the phone conversation was made public by different television and newspapers, the ruling Awami League claimed that the release was good, claiming that the “partial conversation” released by the BNP misled the citizens.

Meanwhile, the BNP censured the leak and termed it a violation of political norms. l

WAR CRIMES TRIALS

No effective initiative to bring back fugitive accused n Udisa Islam People who are deemed fugitives and convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal cannot be brought back all on a sudden, say foreign ministry officials.

On the other hand, pro-liberation activists and some members of the prosecution team think it would have been possible to bring them back had the government appointed any strong lobbyist group in this regard.

According to the investigation agency’s probe report, war crimes accused and alleged al-Badr leaders Chowdhury Mueen Uddin and Ashrafuzzaman Khan have been living in London and New York for decades. The verdict in their case, filed for abduction and murder of intellectuals, will be delivered today.

This is the second war crimes case in which the trial was conducted in absentia as the tribunal’s attempts to have the accused in the courtroom failed. The trial against the duo began in July.

As per law, the tribunal ordered its registrar office to publish advertisements in two newspapers asking Mueen Uddin and Ashrafuzzaman to appear before it within 10 days from

DHAKA TRIBUNE

the date of publication. However, they did not appear before the tribunal.

Earlier, the tribunal convicted absconding war criminal Abul Kalam Azad, also known as Bachchu Razakar, who was an expelled member of Jamaat-e-Islami. No one knows his whereabouts.

Latest on October 9, Zahid Hossain alias Khokon Razakar, who is now in Sweden, was indicted for war crimes.

Shahriar Kabir, executive president of Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, said, “We have been urging the government from the very beginning to try to bring back the war crimes accused by putting in place our highest diplomacy. But we do not think they did it properly.”

Prosecutor Tureen Afroz told the Dhaka Tribune that repatriation of the accused was possible “if we employ an active lobbyist group. We need strong diplomacy.”

She was hopeful that it was still possible even though it was already late.

Another prosecutor Shahidur Rahman thinks the prosecution team as well as the government did their job properly. He said, “We did our job; the foreign ministry is also trying to do their level best.”

He, however, admitted that after the order to start trial, “we do not know specifically which initiatives the government took to bring them back.”

Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque said they were working on the repatriation of the accused, but it would take more time. “We sent some papers to those countries where Mueen and Ashraf live. But we do not want to disclose anything on this.”

He also said they had not known the whereabouts of death-row convict Bachchu Razakar.

Activists claim that after framing of charges against the two al-Badr leaders, no effective initiative had been taken by the foreign ministry. On the other hand, accused Mueen Uddin gave an interview with an internationally renowned television channel and criticised the trial.

In the interview with Al Jazeera on July 20, Mueen termed the ongoing war trials “sham” and “joke,” and labelled the tribunal as a “kangaroo court.” He said he would never appear before it.

The comments came only four days after the tribunal had begun hearing on the case against him filed on 11 charges of wartime offences, including the kill-

ing of 18 intellectuals between December 11 and 15, 1971. Among the martyrs, nine were Dhaka University teachers, six journalists and three physicians.

In the interview, Mueen admitted that he had been a member of Islami Chhatra Sangha, Jamaat-e-Islami’s student front that was later renamed as Islami Chhatra Shibir. However, he denied his involvement with paramilitary force al-Badr, which has been blamed for atrocities including the killing of intellectuals. The al-Badr had been formed with the Chhatra Sangha members.

“I resigned from my political posts after the military crackdown [on March 25, 1971].”

He also claimed that he had not supported the military action on Bangalees.

Shahriar Kabir said, “When we all know that Mueen and Ashraf were among the ‘most wanted’ after the Liberation War for the killing of intellectuals. Their pictures were published in newspapers soon after the independence with a call for their capture. Then how could he act like this?”

He observed that if the accused had not been involved in war crimes, then he should have faced the trial. l

week ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

“Borrowing from foreign sources at lower interest rates also made the entrepreneurs reluctant to take loans at high rates from the country’s financial market,’’ said a senior executive at one of the private banks.

From 2010 to October 2013, the central bank has allowed private firms to borrow $3.64bn or Tk279.6bn from foreign sources at lower interest of around 5%. Most of the credit went to telecommunications, power and textile sectors, according to the central bank data.

The private banks which still maintain spread above 5% were: AB bank (5.26%), City bank (5.76%), IFIC (5.82%), Pubali (5.35%), Uttara (5.99%), Eastern (5.42%), Prime (6.67%), SIBL (5.53%), Dutch-Bangla (8.09%), One bank (6.16%), Bangladesh Commerce bank (5.90%), Premier (6.21%), Bank Asia (5.85%), Jamuna (6.23%) and BRAC (9.10%). l

AL’s rally today n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Ruling Awami League will organize a show of strength at today’s mourning rally ensuring presence of thousands of party leaders and activists at Suhrawardy Udyan with the election just three months away.

The ruling party will hold its rally at Suhrawardy Udyan to mark the historic Jail Killing Day where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address as a chief guest.

Presidium Member Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury will preside over the rally.

Earlier, the city unit AL announced to hold the rally on October 25 in front of its Bangabandhu Avenue but refrained from doing so as the Dhaka Metropolitan Police imposed a ban on all sorts of meetings, rallies and processions in the city area. l

Four DB men suspended n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Four members of Detective Branch (DB) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police including a sub-inspector were suspended yesterday for releasing a shopkeeper after taking bribe.

Suspended DB personnel are SI Ashiqur Rahman, Constable Suman Dhar, Mizanur Rahman and Harun-or-Rashid, said Anindita Barua, additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of DB in CMP. She told the Dhaka Tribune that they were suspended as part of routine work to maintain discipline in the police force.

DB sources said SI Ashiqur, along with some DB men, conducted a drive at number 103 shop of Reazuddin Bazar in the port city on October 30 night receiving information that about 3000 Yaba pills were in the shop.

However, they did not find any Yaba

from the shop but they nabbed the shopkeeper on charge of hiding the Yaba pills from the shop before the arrival of police.

The DB men took him to DB office and allegedly released him after taking Tk1, 00000 in cash and another Tk1, 00000 in cheque from the shopkeeper.

The next day the shopkeeper put forward a complaint to the CMP commissioner and the commissioner asked the deputy commissioner (DC) of DB to investigate the matter.

DC Kusum Dewan of DB then asked Md Kamruzzaman, assistant commissioner (north) of DB, to look into the matter.

Kamruzzaman submitted the report to the DC on October 31 night after initial investigation. After that the DC of DB suspended the accused four DB men temporarily, said the sources.

The investigation was going on, added the ADC of DB. l

BNP activists under attack n Our Correspondent, Narsingdi The residences of eight BNP activists were vandalised in a targeted attack in Narsingdi on Friday night, in which five individuals were also injured.

The attack was allegedly made by activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League.

According to the victim families, a group of 20-25 armed men led by Chhatra League cadre Moniruzzaman alias Monir attacked the houses of BNP activists, damaged furniture and elec-

tronic materials and looted valuables worth millions.

The incident occurred at the Shantanpara area under Polash upazila of the district on October 1.

Polash police said the incident could be an “act of vengeance” as BCL activists including Monir, earlier on October 31, were attacked by BNP supporters during a procession on October 31.

The injured were admitted to the Narsingdi general hospital. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Sunday, November 3, 2013

41 gold bars siezed in two airports n Tribune Report Customs officials yesterday seized 41 gold bars worth around Tk23m at Dhaka and Chittagong airports.

16 gold bars were recovered at Shahjalal Airport in Dhaka while 25 bars at Shah Amanat Airport in the port city.

Customs officials said market price of the gold seized at Chittagong would be around Tk15m.

However, customs officials could not identify the owner of the bars at Chittagong but they had made one arrest at Dhaka.

Moshiur Rahman Mondol, assistant commissioner of customs, said several luggage were found unclaimed after a flight of Air Arabia from Sharja landed at the port city yesterday.

“Actually, the flight landed on Friday and some baggage came by another airplane yesterday.

But we could not find the owners of the baggage. The gold bars weigh 2.5kg each,” he said.

At Dhaka, customs officials found 16 bars worth Tk8m from the luggage of a passenger returning from Dubai.

Kabir, who came on an Emirates flight, was arrested in this connection, Nazma Jabin, assistant commissioner of customs said.

Smuggled gold is reported regularly in recent times from inbound flights, especially those from middle-east. l

Irregularity mars project for jobless youths: TIB n Tribune Report

Christian devotees light candles at the graves of their loved ones on the “All Souls Day” and pray for their departed souls at the Holy Rosary Church in the capital’s Tejgaon yesterday RAJIB DHAR

PM urges Khaleda to withdraw hartal She says BNP chief is desperate to see the war criminals free

n Tribune Desk Urging the opposition leader to withdraw their 60-hour fresh hartal, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday called on people to build a strong resistance against those who blast bombs and take away food from their mouths.

“I’ll request the opposition leader not to enforce the hartal that will destroy the academic life of young students,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina, also the President of the ruling Awami League, was addressing a mammoth public rally at Pangsha University College ground in Rajbari, reports UNB. The prime minister alleged that the

Missing youth found dead after 13 days

n Our Correspondent, Tangail Police recovered decomposed body of a youth in Tangail after 13 days of his missing.

The body was found in a sack at the bank of Louhoganj River. The deceased was Jamal, 28, son of Akkash Ali of Aloya Rajbari village of the upazila.

OC Nazrul Islam of Tangail police station, said locals called the police after getting bad smell coming out of the sack on the riverbank. l

WEATHER

Dry weather likely n UNB Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country until 6pm today.

Light fog might occur over Rajshahi, Rangpur and Dhaka divisions during late night till morning, Met Office said.

Night and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.

The sun sets in the capital at 5:18pm today and rises at 6:06am tomorrow.

Country’s highest temperature 32.0 degree Celsius was recorded at Jessore and lowest 17.6 degrees at Rangamati and Srimangal yesterday.

Highest and lowest temperatures recorded in some major cities yesterday were: City

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

31.0 28.8 30.7 26.8 31.8 31.0 27.1 30.5

20.9 20.0 20.7 20.3 20.4 19.5 18.8 21.0

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:49am 6:05am 11:42am 3:42pm 5:18pm 6:35pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

opposition leader wants to disrupt the Junior School Certificate examinations, beginning tomorrow, by enforcing another unnecessary hartal.

She also urged Khaleda to allow the students to finish their academic life peacefully. “Let them sit for their exams please.”

Referring to the previous spell of 60-hour hartal, the Awami League chief further alleged that the opposition leader killed 20 people in the last 60- hour hartal. “I phoned her and requested her to withdraw the hartal. But you all know what was the way she replied to me,” Hasina lamented.

“I had requested the opposition

leader over phone to come to Ganobhaban for dialogue but she rejected my offer and took the lives of 20 people by enforcing 60-hour hartal,” she added.

Continuing her scathing attacks on Khaleda, Hasina said, “The opposition leader (Khaleda) only knows to kill people and play with blood. I’ll request you (people) all to build a united resistance against those who love to hurl bombs on others and take away food from people’s mouths.”

Sheikh Hasina said the opposition party in the name of their anti-government movement has been killing innocent people, destroying public and private property.

The premier also alleged that the opposition leader killed members of the police, BGB and army in the name of agitation and movement in the country.

She said the opposition leader wants to destabilise the country by killing people. “She (Khaleda) wants to create an anarchic situation to save the war criminals…in her last tenure, the opposition leader had allowed the war criminals to fly the national flag in their cars.”

Hasina said the BNP chief has got desperate to free the war criminals who had helped the Pakistani occupational forces to kill people, rape innocent women and make arson attacks in the

country during the Liberation War. The Prime Minister wanted to know from the opposition leader what actually her intention to play with the lives of people.

The Prime Minister said her government has strengthened the Election Commission, and over 5700 elections at different tiers of local government, including a number of by-elections, were held in a free and credible manner under her government.

Saying that the Election Commission will fairly conduct the next general election, Hasina urged the opposition to participate in the election under an all-party interim government. l

Japanese experts conduct earthquake drill in city n Tribune Desk

A team of Japanese experts yesterday conducted an earthquake evacuation drill in Motijheel colony here to give a firsthand idea to the colony inhabitants that how community people should react during a massive tremor.

They provided training with videos on major earthquakes hit Japan and China and a mobile vibration education module named BURURU that shows differences of two buildings with and without resistant to shake, reports UNB. Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense Department provided support to the Japanese experts in conducting the evacuation drill, said a media release.

This drill, CBDM (Community Based Disaster Management) was conducted under CNCRP project (Capacity Development of Natural Disaster Resistant

techniques of Construction and Retrofitting for Public Buildings), implemented by Public Works Department (PWD) with technical support of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

CNCRP Project Manager and Superintending Engineer of PWD M Abdul Malek Sikder said creating community awareness on earthquake is an integral part of earthquake preparedness.

Such kind of training will help the community to take proper action during any intensified earthquake, he said.

JICA communication specialist Eriko Kobayashi stressed the need for preparedness among people considering Bangladeshi histories of earthquakes and vulnerability of Dhaka’s dwelling condition.

The JICA expert team will conduct a series of such trainings in other colonies in the city. l

A fire fighter addresses people to raise awareness about earthquake and its terrible consequences, as part of a drill organised by Jaica yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

The National Service Programme (NSP) launched about three years back for employment generation for unemployed youths has been beset with graft, says a survey of Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) yesterday.

The way the programme was being carried out was questionable as political consideration, nepotism, discrepancy, negligence, false documents and bribery gripped the selection process of unemployed youths, said the survey.

It said money was illegally realised from the entitled youths.

For enrolment on the training list Tk10,000 to Tk20,000 has been taken, participants received training allowance only Tk1,000 to Tk2,000 instead of allotted Tk9,000, some Tk1,000 to Tk2,000 was taken for transferring on choice, and Tk10,000-Tk15,000 was realised for beginning a new project in piloting areas, according to the survey unveiled at a press conference in the city.

Appreciating the idea to introduce such programme, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said there are some questions like political consideration, anomalies and lack of good governance, accountability and transparency in implementing the programme.

He said genuine youth was deprived while people having political clout enjoyed facility, leaving the project dubious and uncertain, he said.

Some specific policy and guideline is needed to ensure accountability in the programme before taking up such projects in the future, he said.

The survey was carried out in 11 upazilas under NSP programme from April to October this year. It was prepared by taking interviews of officials and employees of government agencies concerned, including youth and sports ministry, consultants, participants, journalists and general people, and by gathering information from the published news reports, economic survey, budget and many other sources.

The selection process for the enrolment in the training programme was marred with anomalies and irregularities, said the survey.

In training process, trainer who was selected under political consideration and nepotism neglected their designated duty. Consultants were also appointed under political consideration.

Gopalganj district was not in the concept paper of the programme but later included in the pilot project lists.

Districts were selected for pilot programme taking poverty dominated districts into the account but there are many districts with higher poverty rate than Gopalganj, the survey said.

Seven members of a family have been enrolled on the list for training and total Tk1.9m was spent for the family in absence of proper guideline.

In many stages, officials and employees of sports and youth ministry abused power in selecting people for the programme.

The TIB put forward 13-point recommendation, including specific guideline for NSP implementation. Sources said this year the government has not taken any new project due to some “controversies” in the NSP. The NSP was launched in 2009-2010 fiscal, under which a total of 63,156 unemployed youths of 10 districts have been engaged in 11 public service sectors for two years’ temporary employment so far under two phases. l

Indigenous people most vulnerable to political instability: NHRC chief

Hefazat calls rallies in Dhaka, Sylhet and Khulna

n Muktasree Chakma Sathi

n Tushar Hayat, Chittagong

The country’s indigenous people are the most vulnerable victims of the present political situation, said National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Mizanur Rahman yesterday.

Saying that the commission had drafted an act to safeguard the rights of the indigenous people, he also said: “In many countries around the world such laws exist to protect the vulnerable portion of the population.”

The NHRC chairman made the comments at a public hearing on indigenous peoples’ rights, jointly organized by the Institute for Environment and Development (IED), Kapaeeng Foundation, Sampriti Mancha and Jonouddyog at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh Centre.

Mizanur also expressed concerns over the fact that political chaos and instability were gradually forcing the indigenous people to leave the country.

“Not only are the minorities, but also the majorities are suffering from the present political situation across

Nearly six months after holding a rally at Shapla Chattar in the capital’s Motijheel area, which turned to violence against the state and the people, radical Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh yesterday announced another showdown in Dhaka on November 15.

Hefazat Joint Secretary General Mainuddin Ruhi announced that the group would also hold huge rallies in Sylhet on November 7 and in Khulna on November 8.

The rallies are being held to demand the implementation of their 13-point list of demands, the cancellation of the Qawmi Madrasa Education Authority Bill, 2013, and the release of Hefazat leaders and activists detained over the mayhem in Dhaka on May 5-6.

From a rally held at the Hathazari College grounds in the afternoon, Ruhi threatened tougher programmes, including hartals, if the government tried to interrupt the rallies.

Hefazat, however, did not confirm the venue of the upcoming Dhaka rally.

the country. The citizens are scared and worried. They want salvation from such conditions,” the NHRC chief said, and urged politicians to practice politics without bloodshed.

Speaking at the programme, State Minister for Social Welfare Promod Mankin said the government was sincere enough to protect the rights of the ethnic minorities, but admitted there were still many problems such as landrelated disputes that needed to be ad-

dressed by the government.

Indigenous peoples’ representatives from Bandarban, Rajshahi, Naogaon and Dinajpur described their sufferings at the public hearing, which was chaired by the Executive Director of the IED Numan Ahmed Khan.

Columnist Sanjeeb Drong, journalists Biplab Rahman and Farzana Rupa, and Dhaka University teachers Shourabh Shikder and Robayet Ferdous also addressed the programme. l

At the programme, Hefazat leaders demanded the release of its detained leaders including Mufti Izharul and Mufti Wakkas, the resumption of the operations of Diganta TV, Islamic TV and the daily Amar Desh, and the release of the paper’s acting editor Mahmudur Rahman, the former energy adviser to Khaleda Zia from 2001 to 2006.

In his address yesterday, Hefazat chief Shah Ahmed Shafi defended his controversial speech in which he compared women with tamarind. “I did not say the women are tamarind.

Rather, I just compared them with tamarind. It is true that whenever anyone witnesses a child having tamarind, his or her tongue becomes wet with saliva.

“I have also compared women with flowers. Whenever anybody sees a flower, he or she wants to take in its smell, bringing it near to the nose. So I have told the women not to roam around naked,” he added.

Shafi also said if a man came close to a beautiful woman, he would become lustful if he was a “real male.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

5

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Rebuilding lives after Rana Plaza

Positive attitudes and practical help are both necessary to rehabilitate those disabled by the disaster

AMIRUL RAJIV

H

n Farzana Nawaz is name is Yunus Ali Sardar. He is 40 years old and has 3 children.

He came to work as a day labourer in Savar from Faridpur. On April 24, he rushed into the collapsing Rana Plaza factory building to rescue his nephew who was a worker there. Although he managed to rescue his nephew, he lost both of his legs in the process.

Over six months after the incident, Yunus still spends his days in bed in a state of near catatonia at the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) in Savar. His eldest daughter quit school in order to come and spend time with him and cares for him at the CRP.

The enormity of the effort that it takes to rebuild these broken lives also raises the very pertinent question of how and why these lives were treated with such callousness in the first place

When asked about his trauma or his future plans, Yunus speaks haltingly, barely audible. He says that he wants to go back to his village and with the money he received as compensation he wants to open up a small shop. Of all the Rana Plaza patients I spoke to at the CRP, Yunus’ case was the most heartbreaking and a stark reminder of the ongoing cost of the disaster on the victims’ lives.

To date, the CRP has treated 333 people related to the Rana Plaza disaster - 168 as in-patients (admitted to the facility) and 165 as out patients. The inju-

ries suffered by the victims are various, ranging from fractures, traumatic pain, spinal cord injuries, to amputations.

The treatment provided includes surgeries, physiotherapy, orthotics and prosthetics (installing artificial hands and legs) and counseling. However, that’s not where the work of the CRP ends. After recovery the patients are moved to a half-way village on the grounds of the centre where the conditions of the usual home/community settings of the patients is simulated. In the half-way village the patients learn about the challenges of reintegrating back into their normal lives (for example, coping with reduced mobility) and how to overcome these challenges.

An essential part of reintegration is to find sustainable livelihoods for the disabled. In a country such as Bangladesh where even the able-bodied poor face enormous difficulties in securing a decent income, the challenges facing the disabled are daunting, to say the least. The CRP provides various types of vocational training to its patients and among the Rana Plaza patients 76 have received/are receiving trainings at the centre: 35 in dress making and tailoring, 13 in general electronics, 20 in shop management and 8 in operating computers for office work. (In this they are helped by PSES - Promotion of Social and Environmental Standards, a joint project of the government of Bangladesh and Germany - extended their continuous skills development to injured workers of accidents in the RMG sector as well as to persons with disabilities who seek employment.)

However, providing training is only one part of the solution and arguably not even the most difficult part. In my conversation with Ms Bettina Schmidt of CBM International, an organisation that provides technical support to the CRP, she stressed that the biggest obstacle facing the disabled is a mental one.

First, the disabled need to believe in themselves and that it is possible for them to have a productive life going forward. Even the structural challenges that the disabled face, for example, lack of accessibility in most

work places or public buildings, can be overcome with help from the community and some creativity. However, the willingness needs to be there. None of the Rana Plaza patients that I spoke to at the CRP were willing to return to the RMG sector for future employment, although training and job placement opportunities are available to them through the CRP.

of those affected by the tragedy. The German government has earmarked an additional 2.5 million Euros for improvement of social and environmental standards in the RMG sector which will include funds to upgrade and improve training facilities at the CRP. The CRP also has long-standing partnerships with universities and organisations in Canada, Sweden, Germany and the UK.

Many of the forward thinking initiatives at the CRP are proof of the benefits of combining international know-how with local ingenuity. For example, a prosthetics workshop at the centre

The centre is working with the patients through counseling in order to boost their self-confidence and willingness to reengage with the community and working life.

It is just as important to work with potential employers to change their perspective about disabled workers.

The CRP works with a range of employers to create opportunities for job placement for its patients.

It receives valuable support from CBM international and the German development agency GIZ, who are working on capacity building of employers to create more acceptance of disabled workers and also to improve workplace environment to make them more friendly to the disabled. A crucial component of this campaign is to convince employers that disabled workers are not “charity cases” but rather high-skilled employees who can add value to the organisations.

Working in partnership with international organisations is an important reason for the success of CRP. For example, after the Rana Plaza disaster it worked with the German Red Cross and the International Red Cross, with monetary support from the German government, to coordinate the physical rehabilitation

Many of the forward thinking initiatives at the CRP are proof of the benefits of combining international know-how with local ingenuity. For example, a prosthetics workshop at the centre uses modern technology and locally available materials to produce a wide range of devices (from simple arch supports to more complicated prostheses) for the disabled that are far cheaper than imported devices.

Another excellent initiative recycles all the paper used at the facility to produce toys and simple household items (such as bookshelves). The beautiful, brightly coloured toys can be seen in use at the various children’s playrooms at the centre. They are also sold in the market to generate revenue for the CRP. The various workshops and other income generating activities at the CRP, such as the metal and wood workshop, plant nursery, etc., also create employment opportunities for the disabled who were former patients at the centre.

At the end of my visit as I made my way out through the large, scenic grounds of the centre where the patients convalesce, I met two young women in wheelchairs, both victims

of Rana Plaza. Rehana is 20 years old and she had been working at a factory at Rana Plaza until the day the roof collapsed and she lost both of her legs. Shilpi is 22 years old, the mother of a toddler. One of her legs had to be amputated and the she has lost most feeling in the other. However, on this bright sunny day in this beautiful garden path, both women seem almost stoic about what happened to them and optimistic about their future.

They are a stark contrast to Yunus, who I met at the beginning of my visit. Rehana is childless and unmarried but hopes that both will be possible for her someday. Both women express their desire to open up their own shops once they leave the CRP. I could not help but wonder whether their courage will be enough to sustain them in the reality of life outside the CRP compound.

In the context of Bangladesh the existence of a place like the CRP is nothing short of miraculous. In contrast to most of the country, the disabled here aren’t patronised, rather, they are given the help that they need, according to their individual needs and more importantly, instilled with the confidence that they can have a productive life again in spite of their injuries. One cannot help but be grateful for the heroic work being done by the men and women at the CRP and their international partners.

However, the enormity of the effort that it takes to rebuild these broken lives also raises the very pertinent question of how and why these lives were treated with such callousness in the first place. How can we, as a society, allow the continuation of the status quo where losing their limbs or use of their bodies is a common occurrence for the working poor? If there is any silver lining to the Rana Plaza catastrophe, then hopefully it is that we, as a country, will now be forced to find good answers to these questions. l Farzana Nawaz is a GIZ returning expert and editorial fellow at the Dhaka Tribune. She can be reached at farzana.nawaz@gmail.com.

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Markets sprawl on Mirpur footpaths, roads n Tazlina Zamila Khan Leaders of Malik Samity (owners’ associations) of different markets in the capital’s Mirpur area are allegedly making some quick buck by encroaching upon pavements and a portion of the road.

They have illegally built makeshift shops on the sidewalks and a portion of the road in front of their respective markets and rent those out to hawkers to sell household goods.

The Samity members of different markets of Mirpur section-1, 2, 10 and Mipur Mazar roads are reported to be doing the brisk business.

Hawkers in front of Muktijuddha Super Market, Swadhin Bangla Super Market, Shah Ali Market, Shah Ali Girls School Shopping Complex, Mazar Cooperative Market, Haque Plaza, Muktijuddha Haque Plaza, Mitali Hawkers Market and Shomsher Market alleged that Samity leaders take monthly rent from them.

There are at least 10-20 makeshift shops in front of the markets. The shops are of three types – shops with a polythene rooftop, shops under an umbrella and shops under open air.

The owners of the shops with a polythene roof pay more money than the owners of other two types of shops.

Also the monthly rent varies in terms of the size of the makeshift shops.

Bashir Ali, a vendor of Muktijoddha Super Market, said: “Leaders of the Malik Samity have permitted me to build a makeshift shop in front of their market. In return, I have to pay Tk5, 000 as monthly rent to them.”

Another hawker of the area Sukur Ali echoed the same. He said: “I have been working here for two years and have to pay Tk6, 000 as monthly rent.”

“We are doing business on streets as the state has failed to take our responsibility. We do not have that much money to rent a shop in a market.”

Hashem Ali, also a hawker having a shop in front of Haque Plaza, said: “It is not something new. Owners of many markets in different areas of the city do the same thing for making extra profit.”

He does not think it illegal. “They

Freedom fighters demand quick execution of war criminals n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Freedom fighters in Chittagong city yesterday formed a human chain in front of the Chittagong Press Club and demanded the quick execution of death sentenced war criminals.

The human chain was formed by the Chittagong unit of Bangladesh Freedom Fighters around 5pm.

Speakers at the human chain alleged that a force was trying to save war criminals by creating political violence across the country. Jamaat-Shibir activists had attacked residences of freedom fighters, especially those who gave their depositions against war criminals during the trials, they claimed.

Mohammad Sahabuddin, former commander of Freedom Fighters Chittagong unit, Prof Mainuddin, director of Janata Bank and Abu Sufian, former president of Chittagong Press Club were present in the human chain among others. l

Teacher room burgled at CU n CU Correspondent Miscreants had stolen some valuables and confidential papers from a teacher’s room at Chittagong University.

The university security office is looking into the matter, while they also asked the security guards who were on duty to show-cause, said Bajol Haque, acting security chief of the CU. CU officials said AKM Ziaur Rahaman Khan Sohel, a lecturer of Communication and Journalism department and also assistant proctor of the CU, found the lock of his office room broken when went there around 11am on the opening day of the university after the eid vacation.

“Miscreant stormed the room and broke the Almira and looted some personal confidential files,” Ziaur Rahman said.

The university proctors’ body visited the spot, said Assistant Proctor Anwar Hossain Chowdhury, adding that a probe committee would be formed in this regard.

Morshedul Islam, chairman of the department, blamed the security failure in the campus, and said some valuables were also stolen from the same department this year. l

have opened up an opportunity for us to earn some money to run our families.”

This correspondent found vendors selling different items like shoes, Tshirts, sunglasses and vegetables.

Despite eviction drives by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) hawkers continue to go on with their businesses on sidewalks.

Monir Hossain, a fruit vendor, on the footpath adjacent to the Shah Ali Market has been doing the business there for the last three years.

He said: “My monthly income is Tk15, 000 but I have to pat at least Tk10, 000 to different people including monthly rent of Tk8, 000 to leaders of Malik Samity and a weekly amount of Tk100-250 to police.”

“Police vandalise shops if they are denied the money.

Some vendors alleged that a number of Samity leaders charge them Tk10 every day apart from the rent they pay.

Another vendor Hanif Uddin who has a makeshift shop in front of Shah Ali Girls School Shopping Complex echoed Monir Hussain.

Shahjahan Dewan, secretary of Muktijoddha Super Market Malik Samity, however, denied the allegation: “We do not indulge in such wrongdoings. Only those who have a shop in our market gives us a monthly rent, not the hawkers.”

Manager of Shah Ali Market Mijanur Rahman Fakir said: “Although DCC and DMP often evict them, hawkers continue to carry on with their business.”

When contacted Chief Estate Officer of DNCC Md Fashiullah said: “I am not aware that leaders of Malik Samity are taking rent from hawkers. We will investigate the matter and the persons involved will definitely be punished.”

About the rehabilitation facility for hawkers he said: “Rehabilitation is not an easy matter. Besides, DCC have some limitations.”

About realizing extortion Officer-incharge of Shah Ali Police Station Md Selimuzzaman said: “I am not aware of the matter. Nobody has lodged any complaint with the police station against police or leaders of Malik Samity.” l

Different market owners in Mirpur illegally build makeshift shops on pavements in front of their markets and rent those out to vendors

Deprived BCL leaders announce new committee n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Chittagong city unit Chhatra League men who were deprived of posts in the new committee declared that they would form another committee in the new one was not suspended by November 4.

The announcement came yesterday through a press conference at the Chittagong Press Club around 11:30am where Chittagong Government City College Chhatra League leader, Bukhari Azam, announced the declaration.

The speakers also alleged that former Chhatra League central committee president, Mahfuzul Haydar Chowdhury Roton, city unit General Secretary

Md Salauddin and Omar Gani, MES Degree College Student Council General Secretary Arshadul Islam Bacchu were connected to the committee business.

On October 30, Chhatra League central committee announced a 24-member body of the Chittagong city unit CL Azam said they have been discussing the issue with senior Awami League leaders – ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, president of the city unit of AL, Afsarul Amin Chowdhury, minister for primary and mass education, and AJM Nasir Uddin, former president of city unit

Chhatra League. He said the leaders had suggested that they should continue the movement.

“We will form a counter-committee as they suggested,” Azam added.

They also claimed that the general secretary of the newly announced committee, Nurul Azim Roni, was accused in several cases lodged with different police stations and that he had connection with Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami.

They also alleged most of the leaders in the new committee did not have studentship.

When asked about their connection with the rampage incident on October

30, the leaders avoided the question and claimed Shibir conducted the rampage.

Earlier, Chhatra League central committee announced a 24-member committee of the Chittagong city unit with Imran Uddin Himuas as the president and Nurul Azam Ronias as the general secretary after ten years on October 30.

Protesting the new committee, the post-deprived men of the AL student wing went rampaging in the port city on the night and have been holding different protest programmes in the city.

In 2003, the city Chhatra League committee was formed where AR Azim and Salauddin were president and general secretary respectively. l

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Kamaria UP chairman of Sherpur arrested

n Our Correspondent, Sherpur

Sherpur district Kamaria Union Parishad chairman was arrested by police Friday night and later sent to prison.

A team of Sherpur police station arrested the UP chairman, Nur-e-Alam, from Tongi upazila of Gazipur district after receiving a tip-off. He was already convicted in a robbery case.

Earlier on July 30, 2006, the chairman along with five others were sentenced to four years of imprisonment for mugging a microbus.

Later, Nur-e-Alam was released on bail after filing an appeal and a revision application against the verdict in High Court. l

Slow progress in proposed submarine base Jamaat activists arrested in n Cox’s Bazar, Satkania Our Correspondent, Cox’s Bazar

The government project to set up a submarine base for Bangladesh navy in Cox’s Bazar, as part of its ambitious plan to turn the navy into a modern force in next 10 years, has made a little headway so far.

The district administration is still in the dark about when to start land acquisition necessary in building the base, according to sources.

Earlier at the start of 2012, the defence ministry proposed Cox’s Bazar district administration to acquire 419.85 acres of land in Kakpara area under Mogana Union in the district’s Pekuaupazila to facilitate its building.

Following the ministry’s proposition, the authorities later visited the site and conducted land feasibility

study to that end.

The administration finally sent a report to the department concerned mentioning that land owners are not opposed to idea of land acquisition by the government for the construction purpose.

The proposed site is located on both public and privately-owned land while a substantial chunk of the land is now under illegal possession of some influential locals, sources in the district administration said.

However, the district administration, months after sending its design and final report, is yet to receive any directive on the project from the department concerned. It was learnt that the incumbent government has taken the project to establish a submarine base in the district in its bid to turn the Navy into a modern force.

The cost for the proposed project has been estimated at $1bn.

By 2016 submarine would be inducted into the navy while some naval officers have already headed out for an EU naval base to receive training in this regard.

Locals at Kakpara area were much delighted at the prospect of establishing submarine base in their locality hoping the base would not only generate employment for them but ensure the safety of the fishermen in the ocean.

When contacted, Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md Ruhul Amin said they had no information about the establishment of submarine base.

“We did not receive any directive orally or in writing from the department concerned about land acquisition, so can’t tell when the process would begin,” he said. l

n Tribune Report A total of six Jamaat-Shibir men were arrested in the Chittagong district in the last two days.

Police arrested a leader of Jamaate-Islami from Tekpara area of the town in Cox’s Bazar district on Friday around 9pm.

The arrestee was identified as Jaber Ahmed, member of Working Committee of district Jamaat and also nayeb-eameer of Moheshkhali Upazila unit.

He was also the former chairman of Kalarmarchara Union of the upazila.

Jasim Uddin, officer-in-charge of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Police Station, said: “He was arrested as he was suspected

GOURNADI SHOOTING

Case lodged against BNP leaders, UP chairman and journalist n Our Correspondent, Barisal A case has been lodged yesterday against BNP leaders, a UP chairman and a journalist in connection with the shooting of an AL-backed Sarbahara leader in Gournadi of Barisal.

Officer-in-Charge Abul Kalam of Gournadi police station said Aslam Shikdar filed the case as a complaint accusing 64 people where 14 were named. He claimed it was a preplanned murder attempt, added the OC. Aslam Shikdar, a regional leader of

AL-backed Sarbahara Kamrul group, was ambushed and bullet-wounded by rival BNP-backed Zia faction early Friday at Singa village under Gournadi upazila of Barisal district. He later was admitted to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.

Police, till the filing of this report, arrested BNP leader Wahid-al-Mamun and Sarbahara activist Sujan Mir, the OC said.

Accused journalist Rahat Khan, denying any involvement with attack on Aslam Shikdar, claimed that at the time of the incident he was busy in profes-

sional duty at his Barisal office.

He also alleged that Aslam Shikdar had killed his father, Yunus Khan, in open daylight in 1993 and after that he had lodged a murder case against him.

He claimed Aslam had accused him to take revenge.

According to local sources, Sarbahara Zia group was backed by BNP and Kamrul group was backed by AL. The locals said the groups were trying to reorganise themselves and expand their activities before the upcoming general election.

Among the accused who were

named, Rahat Khan, Barisal correspondent of Channel-24 and Bangladesh Protidin, Kamrul Hasan Himu, chairman of Agarpur UP of Babuganj upazila and also BNP leader, Wahid Al-Mamun, Batajor union BNP secretary of Gournadi upazila, Zakir Hossain Sardar alias Gher Zakir, Gournadi upazila Jubo Dal vice president, Maksud Mridha, upazila Jubo Dal leader, Manik Chokdar, Alamain Khan, Killer Swapan alias Vagney Swapan, Sujan Mir, Zakir Khan, leader and activists of rival Zia faction of Sarbahara, were included. l

of creating violence in the town.”

He added that the leader was also involved in criminal activists in different districts including the killing of three people in the town earlier on February 15.

Meanwhile in Satkania of Chittagong, police detained five JamaatShibir men in separate drives yesterday.

The arrestees were Ahmad Safa, 45, Abu Syed, 75, Abul Hossain, 65, Abdus Sukkur, 22, Mohammad Islam, 35.

Abdul Latif, officer-in-charge of Satkania police station, said police conducted drives at Kanchannagar, Muhuripara and Sadha upazilas and nabbed the five as they were accused of violence during the hartal. l

Watchman killed, another injured in elephant attack

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong A village watchman was killed and another one was injured when wild elephants attacked them at Hindupara, Dharmapur union of Chittagong early yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Mohammad Ilias, 45, police said, adding that one Mohammad Osman, 40, was also injured in the attack. Abdul Latif, officer-in-charge of Satknia police station, said a wild herd attacked on the victims around 5am when they tried to disperse the herd as it attempted to destroy the farmlands in the area. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

7

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Early winter brings sufferings for the poor n Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat

unable to join work before 10am and returned home before 5pm because of the cold.

Rajpur union parishad Chairman Mofazzal Hossain said the sufferings of the shoal residents and the destitute, especially the elderly and the children, have increased because of the early arrival of winter in the district.

The UP chairman also said he had no help to offer to the many shoal residents who thronged his home and office looking for warm clothes.

Mahasinul Haque, the district relief and rehabilitation officer in Lalmonirhat, said his office generally received allocations by the middle or the end of December, but winter had come early in the region this year.

Saying he was preparing to send a letter to the concerned ministry, Mahasinul assured that warm clothes will be distributed to the people in need as soon as the allocation was made. l

The residents of Lalmonirhat’s shoals and the destitute living in the district are facing immense sufferings, as winter had come early this year in the country’s northern region.

Most of the people who cannot afford warm clothes are now waiting for relief to arrive either from the government or from the non-government organisations.

Locals said the district usually started experiencing the effects of winter around November’s end or at the beginning of December each year.

However, the chills of winter this year started to be felt during the last week of October.

Rahat Ali, 48, a day-labourer at Kalmati Char village in Lalmonirhat sadar upazila, said with a daily earning of Tk130 to Tk150, it was not possible for him to buy any warm cloth.

“The char residents who live handto-mouth are facing untold sufferings because of the early arrival of winter this year. Sometimes I cannot go out at morning or at night because of severe cold,” he said.

Rozina Bewa, 65, a resident of Char Bowalmari village in Lalmonirhat sadar, said her family ran on the money she made through begging.

However, the early arrival of winter had made her livelihood miserable, as cold prevented her from going out in the morning for the past two weeks, Rozina said.

“I have no warm cloth, so I fail to fight the cold at morning and night. If I had a warm cloth, I could go out of the home early in the morning,” she said.

Azizar Rahman, 50, a farmer at Rudreshwar village of Kaliganj upazila, said many of the labourers who lacked any warm cloth – were

BNP activists under attack in Narsingdi n Our Correspondent, Narsingdi

Barisal Hindu community observes Kali puja

The residences of eight BNP activists were vandalised in a targeted attack in Narsingdi on Friday night, in which five individuals were also injured.

The attack was allegedly made by activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League.

According to the victim families, a group of 20-25 armed men led by Chhatra League cadre Moniruzzaman alias Monir attacked the houses of BNP activists, damaged furniture and electronic materials and looted valuables worth millions. The incident occurred at the Shantanpara area under Polash upazila of the district on October 1.

Polash police said the incident could be an “act of vengeance” as BCL activists including Monir, earlier on October 31, were attacked by BNP supporters during a procession on October 31.

The injured were admitted to the Narsingdi general hospital. l

n Our Correspondent, Barisal The Hindu community of Barisal had observed the Maha Shamshan Dipali on Friday and Saturday night at Barisal Maha Shamshan Ghat and Dipabali and Diwali Utsav at their houses.

Worship of Maha Shamshan Kali, the goddess for the cremation-ground, also held on early Saturday.

The Maha Shamshan Dipali has a history of traditional worship in Barisal of more than 160 years dating back in 1850.

Total crematory area and houses of the Hindu community people were decorated with lights and lamps on this occasion.

Narayan Chandra Dey Naru, secretary of Barisal Maha Shamshan Rakkha Committee, said the special

festival was being observed only at Adi-Shamshan Ghat of Natun Bazaar and Maha Shamshan Ghat of Kawnia in the sub-continent since 1850.

This traditional religious festival of Barisal Hindu community was observed with special religious rituals this year before and on the night of Kalipuja for the blessings of the departed souls of dearest and nearest ones, he added.

The two crematories became over crowded with thousands of Hindu community people who came from different parts of the country and abroad as well to attend the ceremony.

The devotees, washing the preserved places of the crematory, offered flowers, foods, and decorated places with lights, lamps and candle.

They arranged various types of rit-

A bumper harvest gives farmers a reason to smile and hopes run high that they will get a good price in the market

uals and special prayers at the Shamshan Ghat for the eternal blessings of the departed souls of their dearest and nearest ones.

Organisers said several “Fanus,” big size colourful gas-filled Ballons, were released in the sky on the night of Maha Shamshan Dipali and stalls of sweetmeats and traditional toys were set up at the area as part of the occasion.

Tight security arrangements were also taken by the law enforcers for peaceful observation of the festival.

Barisal Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Shamsuddin said the law enforcers patrolled the city roads to ensure the security of the devotees and to maintain a peaceful inter-religious harmony and coexistences in the area. l

Attack on journalists protested Correspondent, n Our Lalmonirhat Journalists in the district staged a human chain yesterday protesting attacks on them across the country during shutdowns enforced by the BNP-Jamaat-led 18-party alliance.

The weekly Sramik Kantha organised the human chain at the Mission intersection in the town.

Journalists of print and electronic media took part in the hour-long human chain. Speakers at the human chain said journalists have fallen victims to political violence throughout the country though they are not involved in any politics.

A section of political leaders

Intricate terracotta work adorns the exterior wall of one of the heritage buildings

Heritage on verge of destruction n Our Correspondent, Barisal Kalaskathi Zamindar Bari, a 350-yearold palace, along with few other historical architectural structures is getting destroyed because of lack of maintenance.

Neel Madhav Mandir, a cremation spot, and Pal-Bari are standing on the edge of destruction.

Zamindar Janaki Ballav, founded his Zamindari at Kalashkathi more than 350 years ago.

Goutam Mukharjee, one of the descendants of Zamindar Janaki Ballav, said there were at least twenty beautiful architectural constructions such as palaces, temples and cenotaphs, but now only three or four of them are existing in a very dilapidated condition.

He added that terracotta works on the wall of temple, palace and other architectural construction should be preserved.

The terracotta works on the walls illustrate the tales of mythical legends and epics.

The brick-built palace has two arched entrance to the north and to the west and facade of the northern side

is profusely decorated with terracotta plaques.

The spandrel of the arch is decorated with two stylized lions that is common decoration motif for many late medieval temples of Bengal.

Both sides of the arch were decorated with separate panels of terracotta plaques and three rows of terracotta panels above the arch displaying 24 terracotta plaques.

The corners of the edifice is exquisitely decorated with terracotta ornamentation with floral motifs, animal motifs are on the base frieze and one of the panel above the spandrel includes several plaques of the Dasavatara of Brahmanical God Visnu and false corner pillars.

Renowned archaeologists of the country expressed their concerns in many times to preserve the historical site.

They also thinks that though the kalaskathi temple is not an uncommon architecture in Bangladesh, the exquisite and relatively undamaged terracotta plaques and ornamentation is not recognizable in the southern part of Bangladesh. In this sense, it is very important archaeological monument of this region. l

think that journalists are their rivals and that is why they are launching attacks on them to take revenge, they said adding that their vehicles, cameras, laptops and other equipment too are destroyed.

General Secretary of Lalmonirhat Press Club and the Daily Samakal correspondent Ahmedur Rahman Mukul said journalist community would launch a vigorous campaign and boycott all kinds of political programmes if the attacks on them continued.

Editor of the weekly Sramik Kantha Maniruzzaman Manir, also the general secretary of Bangladesh Sangjukta Sramik Federation in Lalmonirhat, also spoke at the human chain. l

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Aman brings smile to farmers n Our Correspondent, Sherpur The sweet aroma of Aman paddy suffused the air of villages and farmers are getting ready to reap the early varieties of Aman at Jhinaigati in Sherpur.

Farmers also expecting a bumper production and a good price in the market in this season.

Earlier in the season when the paddy was growing farmers had feared that they might lose their crop because of insufficient rainfall, but at the end of the season they observed that dense fog and enough irrigation water helped them to hope for a bumper production.

Sarowardi Dudu Mondol, a farmer from Shalchura village, said he was hoping to have a bumper yield this season.

Dudu Mondol also added that the production even could exceed their target.

Farmers of the upazila have also expressed their satisfaction as price of a

maund of paddy has been set around Tk800-900 in the market.

However, owners of the verdant paddy fields, who are still waiting to harvest their paddy, are praying for getting also a good price.

Farmer Abdur Rahman said: “If the current market rate for paddy persists, we would be able to escape financial losses.”

Rahman added that people could not even imagine how a farmer feel after failing to get a good price after all his affords to grow the paddy.

“We don’t have any other option but to expect fair price because we are made to purchase fertilizers, pesticides and other required inputs at a high rate,” he added. Korban Ali, Jhinaigati upazila agriculture officer, said the target for Aman production has been set at 15,100 hectares of land at the upazila in this season. But the yield has successfully exceeded the target. l

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

German, Brazilian UN draft urges halt to excessive spying n Reuters, United Nations Germany and Brazil circulated a draft resolution to a UN General Assembly committee on Friday that calls for an end to excessive electronic surveillance, data collection and other gross invasions of privacy.

The draft resolution, which both Germany and Brazil made public, does not name any specific countries, though UN diplomats said it was clearly aimed at the United States, which has been embarrassed by revelations of a massive international surveillance program from a former US intelligence contractor.

The German-Brazilian draft would have the 193-nation assembly declare that it is “deeply concerned at human rights violations and abuses that may result from the conduct of any surveillance of communications, including extraterritorial surveillance of communications.”

It would also call on UN member

AFP

states “to take measures to put an end to violations of these rights and to create the conditions to prevent such violations, including by ensuring that relevant national legislation complies with their obligations under international human rights law.”

The resolution will likely undergo

changes as it is debated in the General Assembly’s Third Committee, which focuses on human rights. It is expected to be put to a vote in the committee later this month and then again in the General Assembly next month, diplomats said.

Several diplomats said they would be surprised if the resolution did not receive the support of an overwhelming majority of UN member states.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have both condemned the widespread snooping by the US National Security Agency. Charges that the NSA accessed tens of thousands of French phone records and monitored Merkel’s mobile phone have caused outrage in Europe.

General Assembly resolutions are non-binding, unlike resolutions of the 15-nation Security Council. But assembly resolutions that enjoy broad international support can carry significant moral and political weight. l

Somali army attacks al-Shabab base

n Agencies Somali government soldiers, backed

by African Union peacekeepers, have clashed with al-Shabab fighters on the outskirts of Kolbiyo, a town in lower Jubba province near the Kenya-Somalia border.

About 80 government soldiers on pick-up trucks attacked the group’s bases 10km from the town on Saturday, an al-Shabab spokesman told Al Jazeera.

The early-morning attack lasted for more than an hour, he said.

The Kenyan military said dozens of fighters from the anti-government group was killed in the ensuing clashes.

“Somali National Army kill over 30 al shabaab in Kolbio, close to Kenya border,” spokesman Emmanuel Chirchir said on his Twitter account.

But al-Shabab denied the claim.

The al-Shabab base that the government soldiers attacked is close to Kolbiyo and not far from Badhadhe.

Both towns have been scenes of recent attacks by the group fighting the UNbacked Somali government.

The base is also thought to be used by al-Shabab to carry out cross-border attacks in Kenya. l

Egypt pulls satirist who poked fun at army chief off airwaves

n Reuters Cairo Egypt’s top TV satirist was pulled off the air on Friday, a week after he poked fun at the army chief who ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July.

The move is likely to raise further questions about authorities’ commitment to freedom in a country stumbling in its political transition since autocrat Hosni Mubarak was ousted in a popular uprising in 2011. Just before satirist Bassem Youssef’s show The Program was due to start, an anchor from the CBC channel said the last episode had caused discontent on the street and violated editorial policy.

He said the channel had decided to suspend the show until editorial and commercial disputes with Youssef were resolved. Youssef, known for his fierce jabs at Morsi, returned to his show last Friday following a summer break, poking equal fun at Sisi. l

A Hindu priest decorates an idol of the Hindu monkey god Hanuman during Hanuman Jayanti at the Bade Hanuman temple near Sangam in Allahabad. Hanuman Jayanti commemorates the birth of the Hindu god Hanuman AFP

An Australian media rights activist accused Sri Lankan officials of a “witchhunt” against local journalists as she arrived back in Sydney on Saturday after being detained in Colombo for two days.

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Asia-Pacific director Jacqui Park was detained Wednesday along with her deputy Jane Worthington at a media freedom meeting in Colombo.

The IFJ said Park was subject to

lengthy questioning of up to nine hours a day which focused on her movements in Sri Lanka and her associations with locals working in the media.

“From the kinds of questions that we had over the two days it was clear it was kind of a witch hunt against the local media, local journalists and media freedom activists who are really trying to create some free space for freedom of expression in Sri Lanka,” Park said from Sydney.

“We know from our work this is not an isolated incident but really a pat-

50 years on, no end to questions on JFK death n AFP Washington For Jesse Ventura, the professional wrestler turned independent politician, John F. Kennedy was the greatest president in modern US history – and the proof lies in his 1963 assassination. “They wouldn’t even let him do one term. That’s what showed his greatness,” said Ventura, the former governor of Minnesota and author of the new book, “They Killed Our President.”

Ventura believes that Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas probably because he sought to make peace with the Soviet Union and challenge the military-industrial complex following the CIA’s botched Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba. “I believe he had more enemies within his own government than with the Russians and all of them combined,” Ventura said.

An official commission headed by Chief Justice Earl Warren concluded that gunman Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, and histori-

2 Germans briefly kidnapped in Lebanon, released n AP, Beirut

Miranda involved in ‘espionage’ and ‘terrorism’

A Lebanese security official says kidnappers briefly seized two Germans in the country’s eastern Bekaa Valley, but they were released.

He says the two were freed at dawn Saturday after being captured Thursday evening. He did not say how they were released. The official spoke anonymously on Saturday in line with regulations.

Lebanon’s state news agency said a Lebanese soldier was killed in a firefight to arrest the kidnappers.

Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley is dominated by powerful armed clans who often use hostage-taking as a method of resolving conflicts.

Lebanon is facing a growing phenomenon of businessmen being held hostage for cash. But it’s unusual for foreigners to be seized.

The last major incident was in March 2011, when seven Estonian bike riders were abducted. They were released four months later. l

British authorities claimed the domestic partner of reporter Glenn Greenwald was involved in “terrorism” when he tried to carry documents from former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden through a London airport in August, according to police and intelligence documents.

Greenwald’s partner, David Miranda, was detained and questioned for nine hours by British authorities at Heathrow on Aug. 18, when he landed there from Berlin to change planes for a flight to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

After his release and return to Rio, Miranda filed a legal action against the British government, seeking the return of materials seized from him by British authorities and a judicial review of the legality of his detention.

At a London court hearing this week for Miranda’s lawsuit, a document called a “Ports Circulation Sheet” was read into the record. It was prepared

by Scotland Yard – in consultation with

ans debate the legacy of the still popular president, who sent military advisers to Vietnam.

But alternative theories on Kennedy’s death remain rife ahead of the 50th anniversary of his assassination on November 22. A Gallup poll in 2003 found that a mere 19% of Americans believed that a sole individual was behind the murder, with more than one-third agreeing with theories that the mafia or the CIA killed him because he threatened their interests.

Much of the suspicion revolves around how Oswald, a former defector to the Soviet Union with a troubled life, could have single-handedly killed one of the world’s most powerful people by firing from the top of the Texas School Book Depository.

Oswald’s chance to speak publicly ended two days later, when he himself was fatally shot by nightclub owner Jack Ruby.

In works on Kennedy’s assassination – a search under “JFK conspiracy” on online

bookstore Amazon found nearly 800 books – authors have questioned whether another gunman opened fire from the now infamous “grassy knoll” in front of the motorcade. A 1979 report by a congressional committee said that acoustic evidence pointed to a second gunman, although subsequent studies have challenged the assertion. A home movie filmed by eye witness Abraham Zapruder has offered ample fodder for alternative views, with some theorists alleging that “the Umbrella Man” – who opened an umbrella despite the sunshine – was sending a signal.

One of the most prominent alternative theories of the assassination came in Oliver Stone’s 1991 film “JFK” which suggests a cover-up and involvement by Kennedy’s successor Lyndon Johnson. Stone said he wanted to create a “counter-myth” through the movie, which contributed to a decision

by Congress to release more records on the shooting.l

n Reuters, Washington

MIRANDA

REUTERS

the MI5 counterintelligence agency – and circulated to British border posts before Miranda’s arrival. The precise date of the document is unclear.

“Intelligence indicates that Miranda is likely to be involved in espionage activity which has the potential to act against the interests of UK national security,” according to the document.

Miranda was not charged with any offense, although British authorities said in August they had opened a criminal investigation after initially examining materials they seized from him. They did not spell out the probe’s objectives. l

US wants ‘inclusive’ Iraq: Obama

Tunisia ruling Islamists, opposition deadlocked over PM

n Reuters, Washington

Tunisia’s ruling Islamist party Ennahda and the opposition were deadlocked in talks Saturday to choose a new prime minister tasked with steering the country out of a months-long political crisis.

Tensions have gripped the country since the 2011 uprising that toppled veteran dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and were exacerbated with the murder this year of two opposition politicians by suspected radical Islamists.

Ennahda, a moderate Islamist party whose resignation has been demanded by the opposition, has pledged to step down and allow the creation of a government of independents as part of a roadmap.

After months of stalling, the Islamist-led government opened talks with the opposition on October 25 to form the new government, agree on a much-delayed constitution and prepare for elections.

The roadmap to resolve the crisis was drafted by mediators including the powerful UGTT trade union, which announced the latest setback.

It said that a meeting Friday of party leaders to choose a new prime minister became bogged down over who should be appointed to the post from among four candidates.

The delegates agreed to set up a new committee tasked with overcoming the stalemate, the UGTT said in a statement overnight.

The dispute reportedly centres on the frontrunners to become prime minister – Mohamed Ennaceur, 79, and Ahmed Mestiri 88, two veteran politicians and former government ministers. l

President Barack Obama pressed Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Friday to build a more inclusive democracy in his country and said the United States would cooperate with Iraq as it tries to push back a resurgent al Qaeda.

As Iraq experiences a rising spiral of sectarian violence two years after US troops departed following eight years of war, Maliki came to Washington seeking US help to counter a Sunni insurgency revived in part by Syria’s civil war next door.

Obama, in White House Oval Office remarks with Maliki at his side, made no mention of supplying the US-made Apache helicopters the Iraqis are seeking from the United States.

A statement issued by the two governments said both delegations agreed that Iraqi forces urgently needed additional equipment to conduct operations in remote areas where militant camps are located. But it did not specifically cite military aid.

“We had a lot of discussion about how we can work together to push back against that terrorist organisation that operates not only in Iraq but also poses a threat to the entire region and to the United States,” Obama said.

He focused most of his remarks on the need for Iraq to take more steps toward an inclusive democracy, such as by approving an election law and holding free and fair elections next year, “so people can resolve differences

Australian activist: Sri Lanka on a ‘witch hunt’ n AFP, Sydney

Sunday, November 3, 2013

tern of behaviour of intimidation and threats against journalists in Sri Lanka.”

The IFJ said it believes the move was “an attempt to intimidate and harass journalists inside and outside Sri Lanka to prevent reporting on the realities of life in Sri Lanka” ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) later this month.

Park called on Canberra to take a close look at the human rights situation in Sri Lanka. l

UN officials see risk of genocide in Central African Republic

n

Reuters, United Nations

Central African Republic is at risk of spiralling into genocide as armed groups incite Christians and Muslims against each other in the virtually lawless country, senior UN officials told the Security Council on Friday.

The landlocked, mineral-rich nation of 4.6 million people has slipped into chaos since northern Seleka rebels seized the capital, Bangui, and ousted President Francois Bozize in March.

Rights groups say both sides may have committed war crimes.

The 15-member UN Security Council adopted a resolution on Oct. 10 asking UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to submit a report within 30 days to outline possible international support to a planned African Union peacekeeping mission. l

n AFP, Tunis

through politics instead of violence.”

Maliki is seeking increased military aid such as the Apache helicopters to suppress sectarian violence, but faces opposition on that front from some US lawmakers.

Six influential senators on Thursday took a hard line against Maliki, saying his mismanagement of Iraqi politics was contributing to the surge of violence in which 7,000 civilians have been killed this year.

Maliki, a Shi’ite Muslim, has been widely criticised in Iraq and in Washington for failing to give Iraq’s Sunnis, Kurds and other minorities a greater role in the country’s central government.

The joint US-Iraqi statement noted the Iraqis stressed a desire to purchase US equipment and confirmed its commitment to ensure strict compliance with US laws and regulations on the use of such equipment.

Maliki, speaking through an interpreter, said he and Obama talked about how to counter terrorism and that he wanted to strengthen democracy in Iraq.

“We also want to have the mechanism of democracy such as elections, and we want to hold the elections on time, and the government is committed to do so,” he said. “Democracy needs to be strong, and we are going to strengthen it because it only will allow us to fight terrorism.”

The two leaders also agreed on the need for a peaceful resolution to Syria’s civil war and to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. l

WORLD WATCH China bans officials sending New Year cards

China’s ruling Communist Party on Friday banned officials from sending or printing New Year cards or calendars if they have been paid for with public funds, the latest step in the government’s crackdown on waste, extravagance and graft.

“The printing and production are more and more extravagant, and the waste is greater and greater,” the central government said on its main website. “This is not only an expression of formalism, but drives extravagance.” The order covers all government and party departments, state-owned industries and financial bodies, though an exception will be made for those which deal with foreigners and overseas Chinese, as long as they rein in costs, the notice said.

Judge denies US town’s request to halt sauce productions A Los Angeles suburb that sued to curb the strong, spicy odour emitted from a chili-processing plant lost its initial bid for a court injunction against the makers of the popular Sriracha-brand hot pepper sauce on Thursday. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert O’Brien denied a motion from the small city of Irwindale for a temporary restraining order against Huy Fong Foods, calling the request “rather edgy.” “You’re asking for a very radical order on a 24-hour notice,” O’Brien said during the brief proceedings. The judge instead set a court hearing for November 12 to consider further arguments on whether there were grounds to issue a preliminary injunction against the chili factory while the court reviews the merits of a lawsuit brought against the company.

Swarms of ladybugs overtake homes

Asian lady beetles have swarmed Tennessee homes. The ladybugs are covering houses throughout areas of the state and are attracted to light coloured structures for warmth as outdoor temperatures drop. Entomologist and Davidson County Extension Agent, David Cook explained, “We have perfect weather conditions, and a large food population...This is a perfect insect storm.” He said, “Some of our other county agents have called in and say, ‘What’s the deal with these? All of a sudden they just show up.’” The entomologist gave his assurance that the bugs are harmless but they have, “a very foul odour and a very bitter taste and so this protects these insects from being preyed on by lizards and birds.” Experts say the invasion will not end until several cold snaps cause the insects to die naturally.

Texas man arrested for overdue library book

A man in Copperas Cove, Texas was arrested when he failed to return an overdue library book. Jory Enck was recently arrested over a GED study guide that he checked out and failed to return three years ago. The city ordinance was passed because some patrons weren’t responding to requests to return their library materials. “The reason they passed it was that they were spending a tremendous amount of money replacing these materials that people just didn’t return,” Bill Price, the city’s municipal judge said.

Enck was released on a $200 bond. Julie Lehmann of the Copperas Cove Police Department said it wasn’t unusual. “I don’t have statistics on it, but it is quite frequently,” she said.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

9

Sunday, November 3, 2013

US has ‘scuttled’ Taliban talks with drone strike: Pakistan minister n AFP, Islamabad The Pakistani interior minister on Saturday accused the United States of “scuttling” efforts towards peace talks with the Taliban by killing the Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud a drone strike.

Chaudhry Nisar said “every aspect” of Pakistan’s cooperation with Washington would be reviewed following Friday’s drone attack that killed Mehsud in the country’s tribal northwest.

A team of religious clerics was hours away from setting off to meet the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) with a view to starting peace talks when Mehsud was

killed, Nisar told a news conference.

“Brick by brick in the last seven weeks we tried to evolve a process by which we could bring peace to Pakistan and what have you (the US) done?” he said.

Nisar said ‘every aspect’ of Pakistan’s cooperation with US would be reviewed “You have scuttled it on the eve, 18 hours before a formal delegation of respected ulema (religious scholars) was to fly to Miranshah and hand over this formal invitation.”

Since its creation six years ago, the

TTP has killed thousands of civilians, soldiers and police in its bloody insurgency against the Pakistani state.

It was also behind the attempt to kill schoolgirl education campaigner Malala Yousafzai in October last year.

Nisar said the identity of those killed in the drone strike was “irrelevant.”

“The government of Pakistan does not see this drone attack as an attack on an individual but as an attack on the peace process,” he said.

Pakistan routinely condemns drone strikes on its soil as a violation of sovereignty and counterproductive to efforts to end militancy, but Nisar’s criticism of the US was unusually forthright. l

Who are the Pakistani Taliban?

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is an umbrella group for a nebulous collection of militant outfits, founded in December 2007 by Baitullah Mehsud, a warlord from South Waziristan tribal area.

Opposed to the 2001 US-led invasion of Afghanistan and supportive of Taliban who fled to Pakistan, the militants were galvanised by Pakistani military operations into their fiefdoms in the semi-autonomous tribal belt after 2002.

But it was a deadly military raid to clear the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad that prompted the creation of the TTP, which went on to become arguably the greatest national security threat to Pakistan.

Tiananmen attackers carried out reconnaissance trips

n Reuters, Beijing

Eight suspected Islamist separatists behind a deadly attack in the Chinese capital had carried out three reconnaissance trips and collected 400 litres of fuel in preparation for their assault on Tiananmen Square, state media said.

The accused all came from Hotan in the restive far western region of Xinjiang and were hiding out in western Beijing ahead of the attack, state television said late on Friday. They had accumulated 40,000 yuan ($6,600) and a number of knives before driving a Mercedes SUV onto the northern part of the square at midday on Monday, in front of the entrance to the Forbidden City.

The car ploughed through bystanders on the edge of the capital’s iconic Tiananmen Square and burst into flames, killing the three people in the car and two bystanders, in what the government called a “terrorist attack.”

Forty people were hurt. The incident has led to increased suppression of the Muslim Uighur minority in Xinjiang, according to the main Uighur exile group, who said 53 people have been arrested by Chinese armed forces for illegally hoarding religious publications as authorities step up inspections.

Xinjiang is home to the Muslim Uighur minority, many of whom chaff at China’s restrictions on their religion, culture and language, though the government says they are granted broad freedoms.l

Court hears appeal in Delhi gang-rape case

What does the TTP want?

TTP’s major attacks

Bitterly opposed to the government’s alliance with the United States in the war against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, the TTP says its aim is to create an Islamic emirate in Pakistan, with sharia law, mirroring Afghan Taliban aims in Afghanistan. Estimated to have at least 10,000 members, its ranks are drawn from Pashtun tribes in Pakistan’s tribal belt. The group dominates northwest Pakistan but it has penetrated central Punjab province and has a strong presence in parts of Karachi, the country’s largest city.

More immediate demands from the TTP include the withdrawal of Pakistani troops from the tribal areas, the release of Taliban prisoners and the end of US drone strikes.

The TTP has been behind hundreds of bomb and gun attacks that have fanned instability in Pakistan, killing more than 6,500 soldiers, police and civilians since 2007. The government blamed Baitullah for the 2007 assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. When Hakimullah Mehsud took over when Baitullah was killed in a US drone attack, he vowed revenge and the TTP dramatically stepped up attacks, exacting high civilian casualties and drawing comparisons with the nihilistic tactics of Al-Qaeda.

Much of the TTP’s campaign has been aimed at Pakistani security forces, including an attack on a naval base in Karachi in 2011 and another on Kamra air base in 2012. l

HAKIMULLAH MEHSUD Mehsud took control of the TTP after a bitter fight for the leadership following the death of founder Baitullah Mehsud in a drone strike in August 2009. Hakimullah Mehsud was widely reported to have been killed in 2010 but later resurfaced.

Seen as a hardliner, he oversaw some of the TTP’s most high-profile attacks including the attempt to kill schoolgirl education activist Malala Yousafzai in October last year.The United States charged him with terrorism after seven Americans were killed in a suicide attack at a CIA base in Afghanistan in December, the deadliest attack on the agency since 1983. l

The Afghan Taliban on Saturday described the killing of Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud as “a big loss” and urged Islamabad to prevent any further US drone strikes.

“The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan strongly condemns this terror act by America and describes the martyrdom of Mullah Hakimullah Mehsud as a big loss,” the Taliban said in a statement. “America cannot create a vacuum or achieve their evil goals by martyring mujahideen. “The Islamic Emirate calls on the Pakistani people and government to make more effort than at any other time to prevent such brutal attacks by the American invaders.” l

dra Modi’s candidature as prime minister of India, according to NDTV. Modi was selected earlier this year to lead the Indian opposition Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) campaign as its prime ministerial candidate.

“Narendra bhai is like my brother.

All of us want to see him become the prime minister. On the auspicious occasion of Diwali, I hope our wishes would come true,” NDTV quoted the 84-year-old popular singer as saying at a function in Pune where Modi earlier inaugurated a hospital named after Mangeshwar’s father Deenanath Mangeshkar.

Modi responded with “lavish praise,”

China vows to silence Dalai Lama in Tibet n AFP, Beijing China’s ruling Communist Party aims to silence the voice of the Dalai Lama in his Tibetan homeland by tightening controls on media and the Internet, a top official said Saturday.

The party’s top-ranking official in the Tibet region Chen Quanguo vowed to “ensure that the voices of hostile forces and the Dalai group are not seen or heard,” in an editorial published in a party journal called Qiushi.

Officials would “make sure that the voice of the party is heard and seen everywhere in this vast 120 million square kilometre region,” Chen wrote in the editorial.

China has worked for decades to control the spread of information in Tibet, but some Tibetans remain able to access non-official sources of information including from exiles abroad by using radio, television and the Internet.

But the party will attempt to stamp out access to such sources by creating party cells in some websites, confiscating satellite dishes and registering telephone and Internet users by name, among a host of other measures mentioned in the article.

China calls Tibetan exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” and accuses him of

Tensions between Tibetans and the Chinese government continue run high, with more than 120 members of the minority setting themselves on fire in protest in recent years, leading to a security crackdown.

Chinese police opened fire on Tibetans marking the Dalai Lama’s 78th birthday in July, shooting at least one monk in the head and seriously wounding several other people, overseas rights groups said. l

according to the NDTV website.

“With their (Mangeshkar family) divine voices, delighted crores of people making them stress-free with music and making their minds and bodies healthy,” the chief minister said.

Shivanand Tiwari of the Janata Dal (United), which severed its 17-year-long alliance with the BJP in June over the latter’s decision to elevate Modi as the head of its electoral campaign, said: “I respect Lata Mangeshkar from my heart... but it is not her fault as many people are fooled with BJP and Modi.”

Modi has been under enormous suspicion for being “communal” as he is blamed for not having done enough in 2002 for preventing the killings of nearly 1,200 people, mostly Muslims, during his time as chief minister of Gujarat. l

China to end use of prisoners’ organs for transplants n Reuters, Hangzhou

masterminding violent efforts to seek independence for Tibet.

The Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, says he advocates greater autonomy for Tibetans rather than independence.

Chen referred to Tibet as “a front line of the struggle against separatism” and vowed to “strengthen the role of party committees at every level, as the sole power,” in the editorial.

China has worked for decades to control the spread of information in Tibet, but some Tibetans remain able to access non-official sources of information

PTI

Lata Mangeshkar endorses Narendra Modi

Afghan Taliban condemn the killing n Tribune Desk Lata Mangeshkar, the legendary Indin AFP, Kabul an singer, on Friday endorsed Naren-

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, fifth from left, and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, sixth from left, sit with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, and Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera, at their meeting called ‘two-plus-two’ AP

Japan, Russia agree to expand defence ties n AP, Tokyo Japan and Russia held their first high-level defence and diplomatic talks Saturday and agreed to step up cooperation between their militaries amid regional security concerns such as North Korea and China.

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera, and their Russian counterparts Sergei Lavrov and Sergei Shoigu

IN FEAR OF POLARISATION

n AFP, New Delhi A court in New Delhi has begun hearing appeal arguments over the death penalty given to four men for the fatal gang-rape of an Indian student that shocked the nation.

Defence counsel A. P. Singh said Saturday that the High Court in New Delhi will hear the arguments on a daily basis before deciding on the appeals filed by the men, sentenced to death by a trial court in September.

“The court started hearing the arguments on Friday. We are hoping for a fair ruling. We are keeping our fingers crossed,” Singh told AFP. The trial court issued the death sentences September 13 for the brutal gang-rape of the physiotherapy student on a bus last December. The woman died of her injuries nearly a fortnight later in a Singapore hospital.

The court said that the crime fell into the Indian judicial system’s “rarest of rare category” that allows capital punishment. All the four convicts filed appeals in the High Court, seeking to overturn the verdict.

There has been a huge public clamour for the men to be executed for the attack on the woman on December 16.l

Narendra Modi (L) and Lata Mangeshkar

also agreed to hold joint military and anti-piracy exercises and establish a defence consultation framework.

Lavrov told a news conference after Saturday’s talks that upgrading defence ties between the two countries could serve their national interests in resolving terrorism and North Korea’s nuclear threats, as well as other regional disputes. He also welcomed the talks as a landmark development for Russia and Japan. l

Turkey, US hold talks on China missile deal n AFP, Ankara

Protesters took to the streets of the Thai capital after lawmakers approved a draft political amnesty bill that could allow the return of self-exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, one of Thailand’s most polarising figures REUTERS

China plans to end its controversial practice of using the organs of executed prisoners for transplants by around the middle of next year, a senior official told Reuters on Saturday.

China is the only country that still systematically takes organs from executed prisoners for use in transplant operations, a decades-long practice that has drawn widespread international criticism.

Beijing said in August it would begin to phase out the practice this month, and health officials have previously said China must stop using dead inmates’ organs to “build a positive image that benefits the country.”

By mid-2014, all hospitals licensed for organ transplants will be required to stop using organs from executed prisoners and only use those voluntarily donated and allocated through a fledging national system, said Huang Jiefu, former deputy health minister who heads the organ transplant reform.

Huang would not give an exact date except that it will be following the end of a separate campaign by the ruling Communist Party designed to get officials closer to the people, which is expected to end between May and July. l

A senior US defence official has held talks in Turkey, the embassy said Saturday, after Washington expressed “serious concerns” about Ankara’s plans to acquire a long-range anti-missile system from China.

Turkey announced in September it was entering negotiations with the China Precision Machinery Export-Import Corporation (CPMIEC) to buy its first long-range anti-missile system.

The move irritated its NATO allies, particularly the United States, which has imposed sanctions on CPMIEC for selling arms and missile technology to Iran and Syria.

“Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Jim Miller visited Turkey for bilateral consultations on regional security issues, including Syria, the US-Turkish bilateral defence relationship, and our partnership in NATO,” US embassy spokesman T.J. Grubisha told AFP. US Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone said last month that Washington was concerned about the prospect of a deal with the Chinese company.

“There’s no disagreement between us but we are seriously concerned about what this means for allied missile air defence,” he said.

NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen has also voiced concern about the decision and said missile systems within the transatlantic military alliance must be compatible with each other.

CPMIEC, which makes the HQ-9 missile system, beat competition from a US partnership of Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, Russia’s Rosoboronexport, and Italian-French consortium Eurosam for the deal, estimated at $4bn.

Turkey has defended its decision to enter into talks with the Chinese company but said it is open to new bids should the negotiations fall through.

US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland will hold talks in Istanbul and in the southern city of Adana next week, the embassy spokesman said.

Turkey’s foreign minister will travel to Washington on November 18, but will not discuss the missile deal unless the US side brings it up, a Turkish diplomatic source told AFP.l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Actions speak louder than status updates

T

he police raid on popular singer Nancy’s home, in response to a facebook status update, is yet more evidence of how fast the government is sliding down a slippery slope that could lead to a worrisome eclipsing of our individual rights and freedoms.

Nancy’s innocuous status update was an expression of her individual opinion -the opinion of a non-politically affiliated She, like anybody pop-singer, and resulted from else in the country, is her own observations and asentitled to her opinion sessment of the current political and is well within her climate. rights to state it. She She, like anybody else in the neither engaged in country, is entitled to her opinpropaganda nor acted ion and is well within her rights seditiously to state it. She neither engaged in propaganda nor acted seditiously by posting her frustrations with the ruling party, and hasn’t become a terrorist-sympathiser simply by expressing her appreciation for BNP politics.

Even if her status update was loaded and had partisan connotations, there is nothing illegal about having political preferences, and in any case, it cannot warrant a raid on her house. If her views were objectionable, even criminal, there are legally sanctioned mechanisms to address this - and a night-time raid on a private residence is not one of them.

The government’s decision to use tactics of intimidation against a popular personality over something like a facebook post shows its lack of both tact and acumen, given that their success in the upcoming polls will be affected by the public’s impression of the way they are regarded by their elected leaders.

Improve maintenance to clear the city’s roads Construction of the recently opened Mayor Hanif Flyover has caused chaos in the Phulbaria and Bangabazar areas of the city.

Heavy equipment has damaged adjoining roads and commuters are being delayed by pothole filled roads that were narrowed during building of the flyover.

The Dhaka South City Corporation Chief Engineer says that repairs to surrounding roads will be made but have been delayed by rainy weather. However, waterlogged and damaged paved roads are not limited to areas affected by new construction projects as poorly maintained roads are a recurring blight in many areas of the city.

In 2012, the Roads and There is no excuse for Highways Department estimunicipalities and the mated the annual loss caused government failing to by traffic congestion in Dhaka maintain the city’s roads as exceeding Tk200bn. Slow properly. Everyone traffic caused by bumpy, potdepends on roads for holed, and damaged roads is a free movement significant part of this problem.

There is no excuse for municipalities and the government failing to maintain the city’s roads properly. Everyone depends on roads for free movement and it is no exaggeration to say they are the arteries that keep Dhaka’s economy moving, so we cannot afford not to take all necessary steps to keep them clear.

This requires proper maintenance of the city’s existing roads and better foresight when building improvements. Regular road maintenance is a basic public need and service which citizens have a right to expect whatever government is in power.

Road maintenance budgets should be publicly scrutinised so the city’s residents can ensure funds are properly spent and are adequate to meet future needs.

Quick and proactive police response October 30

A very informative and important article, “Cops turn social media responders” was in a weekly magazine of October 25th. It should be read by all who have access to newspapers, so they can learn about the simple but superb idea conceived and applied by ACP Tahseen Mashroof Hossain of the Uttara Police. It is a simple, remarkable and very effective manner for getting prompt police help to all residents, not only in Uttara, but anywhere in the metropolis, who have access to Facebook!

I would sincerely appeal to the home minister to officially recognise and reward this pragmatic and realistic ACP, for this ingenious and highly effective step taken by him, in making the police facilities be truly promptly available to any citizen in trouble, through Facebook, to begin within the greater Dhaka area, and then rapidly extend this unique service all over Bangladesh.

Once again my heartiest congratulations to APC Hossain for an excellent common sense innovation.

SA Mansoor

Modern families October 26

Let’s talk about porn October 28

D Brasco Good write up. Very important issue. Pornography addiction can lead to erectile dysfunction among men, while people are viewing it as victimless crime; it is actually not. The victim can be the viewer’s family life.

Mahmudul Islam D Brasco: Thank you. md shahjahan I think there should be an initiative taken by the Bangladesh government to stop all types of porn sites from the internet. Is it possible or not?

Md Rashid Of course, we can get rid of this horrendous infelicity by adapting various measures, one of them might be by adapting religious rituals.

Be Heard

Write to us at: Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath Sukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Email us at: letters@dhakatribune.com Send us your Op-Ed articles: opinion@dhakatribune.com Visit our website: www.dhakatribune.com Come join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune

October 28

Malcolm Arnold There just must be so much anger inside, yes?

Protest, if you choose, but why violence? Why destruction? Why physical abuse? Why?? What is in the minds of these people?

Mohammad Jahoorul Islam Malcolm Arnold: Any extremism is bad. They are destroying public property ie their own property. And it is the case with all of our political parties in Bangladesh, more or less. Now, a new one is added, the so-called Islamists too.

The causes are many, and also a lack of civic sense.

Why was the hartal not called off ?

October 28

Ken Ford-Powell It’s a good question.

Sallyann Hall How bloody-minded and manipulative to continue with the hartal. The opposition leader now has “blood on her hands.” How can someone who knew the consequences of her actions even be called a leader?!?

Sudip Bhattacharjee They are like a group of wild animals. They need power to destroy our country.

Babul Sarwar Why didn’t Hasina call Khaleda before the hartal? Why did the BAL linger on this for two years?

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU ACROSS 1 Chinese boat (6) 5 Opening (3) 7 Tree (5) 8 Whole (6) 10 Eyelid affliction (3) 12 Dry (4) 13 Cover (3) 14 Stupefy (4) 16 Untidy state (4) 17 Charge for services (3) 18 Modern Persia (4) 20 Mild explosion (3) 23 Affectedly modest (6) 24 Headwear (5) 25 Loud noise (3) 26 Way of viewing (6)

Each family is unique in its own way.

You presented some scenarios but didn’t give any solution to the problems that so called modern families are facing in BD. It is totally unacceptable that sons and daughters are more and more using their able parents as free babysitters. Because of our culture, the parents cannot refuse and do not like the idea of having their grandchildren left with hired help; so sometimes reluctantly they agree to care for the grandchildren while the parents are working outside the home. Also, in a joint family, the elderly parents have no say in the matter of looking after the grandkids because their help is taken for granted.

I think people who are using their parents as unpaid babysitters should take into consideration whether the grandparents want to take on the role of raising children again after they hung up their hats many years ago. Adult children who make their parents do their job, though it is not the job of the grandparents, should have a heart to heart discussion with their respective parents and they should make sure that they are willing and eager to raise the grandchildren before burdening them with this huge responsibility.

In return, the adult children who do not hesitate to appoint the grandparents as caregivers of their children should do something grand for the parents to say thank you in return. But in most cases they do nothing! nina

Five killed on first day of hartal

DOWN 1 Prophet (4) 2 Elementary substances (6) 3 Bitterly pungent (5) 4 Require (4) 5 Fuel (3) 6 Craft (3) 9 Part of the eye (4) 11 Japanese monetary unit (3) 14 Line between abutting edges (4) 15 Time of holding (6) 16 Cleaning aid (3) 17 Worries (5) 18 Notion (4) 19 Biblical quotation (4) 21 Kimono sash (3) 22 Female swan (3)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Crossword

How to solve Sudoku: Fill in the blank spaces with the numbers 1 – 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain all nine digits with no number repeating.

Code-Cracker

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

Sunday, November 3, 2013

11

A letter to our politicians n Sirajul Islam

D

Is this what our political culture looks like?

NASHIRUL ISLAM

Reforming our political culture

W n MH Bari

e are deeply worried about the current political deadlock.

No party is willing to take the risk of losing the upper hand even for a single term. The fallout has been endless animosity, vengeance and stubbornness. It is difficult for democratic norms to find any place in this prevailing dread, where democracy often turns into elected autocracy.

It is unfortunate that four decades after our independence, we could not find a transparent and peaceful mechanism for the transfer of power.

As a result, we see at the end of every regime a severe confrontation among political parties, where common people are the worst victims. Past elections have been marked by continuous hartals, vandalism and attacks on the public.

Now the question arises: how can we solve the issue permanently?

We think serious political reform is necessary for getting out of this situation. The following recommendations may be considered: Practicing democratic norms in the party: To make the parties more democratic in their approach it appears that it would be good for the party to hold party council every two years. This will widen the scope for cultivating democratic norms inside the party. Additionally, such practices will help bring some balance in the party leadership. The existing

practice of making the chief of the party a permanent position must be discontinued.

Party chief and head of state: What we see in our country is that party chief and head of state/prime minister remain the same person. It is contradictory for good governance. It is difficult for a party chief to work for the country independently, ignoring party interests as he/she has a party affiliation. This is making a mess in our democratic system.

Code of conduct for politicians: At present we see some politicians change their party loyalty too easily and too often. Their motive is only to grab power by any means. People’s welfare or public interest does not appeal to them at all. Thus it has become necessary to fix some code of conduct for the politicians.

Tenure of government: Five-year terms for the government appear too long of a period. Though it will be more expensive for the national

Past elections have been marked by continuous hartals, vandalism and attacks on the public. Now the question arises: how can we solve the issue permanently?

Audit of funds of the political party: Sources of party funds and its utilisation must be properly audited.

At present, due to lack of transparency in the utilisation of the party funds, the sale and purchase of leaders is thriving. If proper audit is started the influence of black money and muscle men of the party will be reduced to a great extent.

Cut-off point for public support: Given that the aims and objectives of our major political parties are almost identical, an increased number of political parties only contributes to confusion.

It seems logical that at least 10% of the votes polled in the national elections may be the benchmark for a political party to exist.

exchequer, it is worth considering reducing the term to four years. Such a system is working well in the US. Balance of power between president and prime minister: According to our present constitution, all executive powers of the state belong to the prime minister which sometimes turns them autocratic. This is totally against the spirit of democracy. A balance of power between the president and the prime minister is necessary for good governance.

Allow constitutional bodies to work independently: Constitutional bodies like the judiciary, Human Rights Commission, Anti Corruption Commission and Election Commission shall be strengthened by appointing compe-

tent personalities who can work independently without state intervention.

National advisory council: It may be a good idea to set up a non-party advisory council as we see in the UK (House of Lords). It may comprise of nationally acclaimed personalities who with sagacity, honesty and prudence will advise the government on policy issues.

Non-party caretaker government: The impartiality of the caretaker governments, which successfully managed to hold the last four general elections in a free and fair environment and earned national and international acclaim, has been the subject of criticism mainly for the trust deficit on the part of the losing parties. In view of the current stand-off, there is no scope to hold parliamentary elections peacefully without a non-partisan government and that is believed to be the opinion of the majority A roundtable conference among our major political parties can be arranged for discussing the above points. If our leaders can come to a consensus and start to work together for the greater interest of the country, then we may hope for a happy ending.

The maxim goes, vox populi, vox suprima, meaning the people’s voice is the highest voice. We sincerely hope that both Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia will honour the people’s voice and work together for the development of our beloved country, moving beyond past mistakes. l MH Bari is CEO of Black Tiger International.

ear leaders, We are very much appreciative of the way you are showing your love for your country, which we mistakenly thought was ours. We have been watching this love affair of yours and the efforts you are making for the betterment of your country.

Should we stop the “pilgrimage tourism”, things like Biswa Ijtema?

This is a country where some very poor people set up their businesses, and those events are their only sources of income. Many have saved up for a whole year, and for some, it is all they have to support their families. Can we afford to hurt them?

Should we suggest that our people stop going abroad for their treatment when they get sick? Many may no longer be able to afford it.

Should we shut down all of our travel agencies in Bangladesh? Should we shut down our airlines and businesses? Should we stop doing business with those who are still buying our garments and making foreign direct investments?

Or, should we suggest all of our stakeholders stay on the safe side while running their businesses free from interruptions, in a way they can manage?

Should we shut down all of our travel agencies in Bangladesh?

Should we shut down our airlines and businesses?

Dhaka is agitated today. It will probably be agitated tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow in some way or other. Can’t we then invite our guests to come over to Khaliajuri Haor or the Sundarbans for a cruise so that they may enjoy our flora and fauna?

So that they may see our village life and culture in a place where there is no sign of hartals and no processions?

Where there are no bombs, as they ride on a luxurious boat?

Politics and businesses are totally different things. You have to be a rationalist to understand that. You have to think of all the alternatives for all kinds of hazards, mitigations and adaptations.

If it becomes impossible to come to Dhaka for the quality control of apparels for a foreigner, then we may have to take our samples to Yangon or Kolkata or somewhere else, like we once sent our jute and tea products to England. Buyers chose it, liked it, bought it.

Love for one’s own country is an excellent thing, and the profession of politics is honourable

Yes, as I’m a Bangladeshi, I am anxious too. My anxiety is no less than that of anyone else, because I have two kids.

They are going to school, or preparing to sit for exams. But if we mix up all our different issues, our problems will only get worse.

We have developed our agricultural systems before. We have developed our garment sector in Bangladesh despite a similar political atmosphere.

We have improved our healthcare system. We are a polio free nation which is something to be proud of.

We brought down our poverty rate by 25% since 1990, and our per capita GDP has doubled from 1975 levels. We are gradually decreasing our dependence on foreign grants and loans from 85% in 1988 to only 2% in 2010 for the national development budget.

Our per capita income as of 2013 is US$1,044 compared to the world average of $8,985. In December 2005, the Central Bank of Bangladesh projected a GDP growth of around 6.5%.

We have shown dramatic increases in foreign direct investment which has helped our economic growth. We have set up several export processing zones to attract foreign investment.

The situation of our country isn’t a dalliance of ruin, rather the pain of the bleeding. I am sorry for my comments but I could not resist writing this.

Love for one’s own country is an excellent thing, and the profession of politics is honourable. But our kind of unilateral wisdom and love for the country may not be in the interest of the big picture. l Sirajul Islam is a senior consultant at The Independent.

The hypocrisy of Aung San Suu Kyi n Azeem Ibrahim

I

t is deeply ironic that Aung San Suu Kyi was presented in September 2013 with the European Union’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought which honours those who have dedicated their lives to the defence of human rights.

At a time when the world is looking to her for moral leadership, her silence on the plight of Myanmar’s Rohingya people is shocking. Based in the coastal state of Arakan (Rahkine), the 800,000 Muslim Rohingya people have been described by the UN as the world’s most persecuted minority.

At a time when the world is looking to her for moral leadership, her silence on the plight of Myanmar’s Rohingya people is shocking.

Rohingya people have been described by the UN as the world’s most persecuted minority

When Suu Kyi is questioned about the Rohingya Muslims, she shows a surprising lack of understanding or compassion. Her standard response is that both sides, Buddhist and Muslim, are suffering equally, but this is patently not so: Myanmar Buddhists are not politically stateless or being forced to live in squalid camps.

In a BBC TV interview in October

2013, she denied that her country was engaged in ethnic cleansing and suggested that the violence against Muslims was because of fear of “global Muslim power.” This is not a response one would expect from a Nobel Peace Prize recipient.

Could it be that Suu Kyi herself suffers from a personal prejudice against dark-skinned Muslims and lacks political courage to use her influence to stop the violence? She knows that she will lose votes as the Rohingya people are deeply unpopular inside Myanmar with many regarding them as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.

Her ambivalence on the plight of the Rohingya people continues to cause deep concern internationally.

The irony of a peace-loving Buddhist praising the military is yet another contradiction of Aung San Suu Kyi today. In her 20 years spent in jail or under house arrest she stood up against the military junta. But this week she was photographed talking to soldiers in Sandhurst, UK about the need for a “good, professional army that is respected and honoured by the people.”

However, the persecution of minorities in Myanmar is routinely carried out by the army under Myanmar’s nominally-civilian government, reminiscent of the brutal military rule of the past.

But Suu Kyi has obviously decided she needs the tacit support of the men in uniforms if she is to continue in politics although this seems to contradict the need to develop civil society. Concerns have been expressed

about the amount of aid coming from the US and EU to support Myanmar’s military instead of helping the democracy-building process.

“The EU is effectively entering into partnership with the military-backed ruling party in Burma, rather than with the people of Burma,” the human rights group Burma Campaign UK said.

An argument is made that Suu Kyi is working for “the greater common good” and that she needs to show caution if she is to achieve more progressive policies after the next election.

But an example of her detachment from the democracy movement is that during her visit to London, no meetings were planned with any civil rights groups or members of the exiled Myanmar community in the UK, indicating that she is undergoing a “fall from grace.”

Could it be that we are at fault by expecting too much of Suu Kyi? By looking to her to do what is morally right instead of politically expedient, we hoped she would be the shining example to make up for all the flaws in Western democracy.

Disappointed in her feet of clay, we hate to see an icon revealed as just another self serving politician with her eye on the prize, which in this case is the 2015 majority Buddhist vote for the presidency.

However, Myanmar’s constitution forbids individuals with a spouse or children who are foreign citizens from serving as president - apparently a direct reference to Suu Kyi. She will need popular support to achieve a

REUTERS

constitutional amendment followed by winning the presidency. It would be unconscionable if she were to sacrifice the Rohingya minority’s interests in the process.

The means do not always justify the end and the political cost of turning a blind eye to the plight of the Rohingya people could well backfire on her and her political ambitions. In the meantime, Myanmar’s Muslims continue to

suffer a miserable existence in sordid refugee camps, stateless and hopeless and with no foreseeable solution for the future. If not Aung San Suu Kyi, who will champion their civil rights now? l Azeem Ibrahim is the executive chairman of the Scotland Institute, fellow at the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding, and a lecturer at the University of Chicago. This article was first published in The Huffington Post.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Tragic history of Jallianwala Bagh staged at BSA

A scene from National Theatre Reparatory’s staging of Rudro Rabi O Jallianwala Bagh

n Afrose Jahan Chaity Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy’s National Theatre Reparatory staged “Rudro Rabi O Jallianwala Bagh” on November 1 at 7pm at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. It was the thirteenth staging of the

production.

Written by acclaimed playwright Manzur-e-Mawla and directed by theatre personality Ataur Rahman, “Rudra Rabi O Jallianwala Bagh” presents a lesser-discussed side of the Nobel Laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore. It was a historic incident, where Tagore took a

SADIA MARIUM

bold stand against the brutality of the British army by rebutting his knighthood in protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919.

An array of historic events that took place during the Gandhi period and other protests rallied against the British Raj across the globe, have also been

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Swani Zubayeer on his new innings

reflected in the play.

The story then depicted the brutality of the Jallianwala Bagh carnage where hundreds of innocent people were murdered from thousands were seriously injured the gunfire of the British Army led by Brigadier General Reginald Dyer at a gathering at Jallianwala Bagh Public Garden in Amritsar, India, in 1919. Fifty British Indian Army soldiers began shooting at an unarmed gathering of men, women, and children without warning.

Clips from three English movies, “Gandhi,” “Bhagat Singh” and “The Legend of Bhagat Singh” were screened. To establish the history, the situation was narrated.

The protagonist, Rabindranath Tagore is played by Shamim Sagor, the British general by Fakhruzzaman Chowdhury and George Hunter by Aminur Rahman Mukul. All played their roles well. Shamim Sagor tried to gave his best efforts to establish the boldness of Tagore, which was satisfactory but lacked the required intensity.

Light designer Nasirul Haque Khokon successfully created the illusions required for the play while the set designed by Junayed Yousuf was not that impressive. l

n Entertainment Desk The talented musician and vocalist, Swani Zubayeer starts a new innings of his musical career by working as the music director of the Akram Khan directed movie, “Ghashphul.” This is the first time Zubayeer is directing the music for a film.

According to Zubayeer, the film will

feature two songs and the recording of one is already completed.

Hindustani Classical singer Priyanka Gope lends her voice in the song named “Bohudin Por Ei Sokaltake, Mone Holo Konodin Dekhini Age.” The musical arrangement and composition of this song are done by Swani Zubayeer.

The other song written by RafiqueUz-Zaman is named “Somoy Theme Giyesilo,” and will be sung by Swani Zubayeer himself. Popular musician Laucky Akhond worked on the musical arrangement of the song.

While talking about working as a music director, Swani said: “I am really very happy and grateful that Akram Khan picked me to work as the music director of the film. It is not an easy task and it has provided me with an opportunity to show my talent as a musician and there is certainly a lot of scope to prove myself.”

Previously, he has lent his voice in Chashi Nazrul Islam’s “Devdas” and Mohammad Ali Parvez’s “Priyotoma Tumi Dari Ami Koma.”

He has released a number of Bangla and ghazal albums throughout his career including “Ajasra Kabita,” “Jugolsondhi,” “Apna Khayal” “Adbhut Ek Adhar,” and more. l

Beauty becomes voice in Projonmo Kantho production

Masum Chowdhury, president of Projonmo Kantho, performs at the groups first full-fleged production SADIA MARIUM

n Badiuzzaman Bay Sitting in the front row has its privileges. Not only does it give you a sense of closeness, it also allows a more in-depth look into a theatrical performance. But what does a privileged position have to do with a recitation production which is only to be heard and heard alone? The thought flickered through my mind for a while before it was driven away by the surprise entrance of the performers of Projonmo Kantho through the middle rows of the auditorium.

I realised that here was a show that would test not only my sense of hearing, but my sense of sight and sense of wonder too. I slouched back in my chair for more surprises.

The first full-length production of Projonmo Kantho, titled “Feriwala” (street seller), is all about doing things

that haven’t been done before and stretching the limits of conventional poetry readings. Zillur Rahman Shohag, who scripted and co-directed the show, rightly described it as an “experiment.”

Divided into strictly-timed segments, the show was an attempt to bring poetry to those who wouldn’t necessarily go for a conventional literary event and to convey messages tailored to suit their surroundings. The performance began in a manner typical of an interactive theatre, and ended before anyone could think of it being too ropy.

Shohag set the tone for the show by reciting the prologue and underlining its central themes – love in its many faces, life in its entirety, and revolution, when there’s a need for one.

Throughout the event, he played the role of a storyteller, both a compère and an intermediary at the same time.

Sometimes he introduced the characters, like that of an enchained poet yanked into the stage by two soldiers, sometimes connected the storylines, or supplied missing elements.

There were more than a dozen poems of a total of nine poets, recited either in part or full, highlighting the themes. “Adhora,” for instance, a poem by Arif Hyder, fusing elements of monologue and dialogue, narrates the story of a poet who meets a lady looking for shelter from the rain. They begin a conversation and, as described in the postscript, a relationship too.

The next two poems, “Shona-Bou” (Sweet Wife) and “Manusher Manchitro” (Maps of Individuals) – made to look like two parts of a single poem – narrate the story of two lovers now leading separate lives. They express feelings of longing, grief and emptiness; their longing for each other is so intense it borders on the sensual. The poems were written by Abul Hossen and Rudra Mohammad Shahidullah, respectively, and recited and acted out by Rezwan Shuvo and Nur Nigar Sultana.

Other poems of note included “Nesha” (Addiction), by Mofazzal Karim, “Amalkanti,” the oft-recited poem of Sunil Gangopadhyay, “Kobir Mrittu” (Death of a Poet), by the same poet, and “Ami Kingbodontir Kotha Bolchhi” (Here Speaking of the Legends), by Abu Zafar Obaidullah.

However, the strength of the show lies in its crafty use of lights, costumes, and music, choreography and set design – enhancing its visual appeal to the audience members. It was dramatic and stylistic, to say the least, without the irritating modishness that experimental shows sometimes end up having. l

The single episode drama Ghum Ghor will be aired today on NTV at 9pm. Written and directed by Mahmud Didar, the drama features Joya Ahsan, Shotabdi Wadud, Kajori Zaman, Bablu Bosh and others. A mortician named Koshur comes across a dead body that seems alive. It is the body of a beautiful woman. He runs away with her, avoiding being caught by the police. Afraid of being caught, he decides to drop her off in a sanctuary. But, as he nears their destination, the woman suddenly disappears into thin air, leaving Koshur in fear and desperation

ON TV DRAMA 3:30pm Zee Café Lost

6:30pm Colors

Main Hoon Surya Singham 2

MISC 2:30pm Fox Traveller Twist Of Taste

9:00pm MTV Top 20

COMEDY 4:30pm Colors

Comedy Nights With Kapil

10:30pm Comedy Central

Two Pints And A Packet Of Crisps

Rocketman biopic features Tom Hardy playing Elton John n Entertainment Desk The 36-year-old British actor previously played Bane in “The Dark Knight Rises” and has starred in films such as “Inception,” “Lawless” and “Bronson.”

“Rocketman” is being made with the co-operation of Sir Elton, 66, who is an executive producer on the project.

It will begin shooting in late 2014, Focus Features said.

The screenplay has been penned

by Lee Hall, who was Oscar-nominated for Billy Elliot, and recently worked on the film adaptation of “War Horse.”

It follows Reginald Dwight’s journey from childhood piano prodigy to global

Farhan Akhtar to act Lady Gaga surprises audience in a biopic as Sahir with naked gig n Entertainment Desk

n Entertainment Desk

It seems to be raining biopics in Bollywood. Paan Singh, Milkha Singh, and Shahid Azmi are some of the people on whom biopics were made in recent times.

Now, Farhan Akhtar will act in a biopic once again, after playing Milkha Singh in “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.” This time, Farhan will play the role of the writer-poet Sahir Ludhianvi.

Ashi Dua, who produced the movie “Bombay Talkies,” will be producing this movie which portrays the life of Sahir Ludianvi. Jasmeet Reen, a debutante director, will direct the film.

No other details have been revealed yet, but a source says Farhan will also sing some of Sahir’s timeless verses.

“The film will focus on the poetry and the love between Sahir Ludhianvi and author Amrita Pritam. They shared a stormy relationship that lasted for decades. Farhan is the natural choice for the role since his father is a poet and Farhan himself writes poetry,” the source added. l

The “Applause” singer stripped completely at G.A.Y nightclub in London last weekend, surprising the audience. Although her plan sent her aides into shock, the 27-year-old singer felt compelled to do it as an artistic expression.

During an interview with UK station Radio 1, she said: “I was performing my song ‘Venus’ for the first time and the label was having a meltdown as I was telling them I wanted to do this (get naked).”

“I was performing at GAY and wanted to give them ‘Venus’ as a thank-you for always being there for me and supporting me in the beginning at one of my earlier gigs.”

“It was just so natural to me, in the painting (Birth of Venus) by Botticelli, she’s naked, she’s spawned from the sea and the painting has been inspiring me.”

“It just happened, I feel safe at certain points to do things like that. I just wanted to be nude and feel the spirit of Venus, come out of the painting

superstar, under his stage name Elton John.

Hardy is respected for his wide-ranging talent, but his brawny, tattooed frame makes him an unconventional choice to star as the flamboyant musician.

He is not the first actor to play Sir Elton. In 2001, Justin Timberlake appeared as a “young Elton” in the video for the latter’s “This Train Don’t Stop There Any More.”

Last month, Sir Elton John played live at the Emmy Awards ceremony for the first time.

He performed a tribute to Liberace, the American pianist and vocalist whose life was told in the recent biopic, “Behind the Candelabra.” l

TODAY IN DHAKA Exhibition

Rhythm of Xylography Group Art Exhibition Time: 11am – 7pm Gallery Cosmos-2, New DOHS, Mohakhali Nishobdo Solo Exhibition

By Shabekun Nahar Time: 3pm - 9pm Alliance Francaise de Dhaka, Dhanmondi When Silence Eats Sound Group Exhibition Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Art Lounge 60 Gulshan Avenue

Film

Planes in 3D Riddick Purno dhorgho prem kahini Monsters University in 3D Titanic (3D) Bullet to the Head Level 8, Bashundhara City Panthapath and sing.”

Gaga, 27, insists her new album “ARTPOP” is a development of her art and she is adamant she will never let people dismiss her pop music as something that is not important.

She added: “What I am on stage is always affected by the fans - ‘ARTPOP’ is about showing my artistic process.

People think there is no artistic process and I should just shut up and sing pop songs.’’ l

Festival

Urban Youth Festival II Time: 11am – 8pm Goethe Institut Bangladesh Road 9 (new), House 10, Dhanmondi R/A

Did you know?

Indian batsman Rohit Sharma (491 runs in 5 matches) became the highest run scorer in any bilateral ODI series yesterday

Sport

Sunday, November 3, 2013

14 Barca down 14 Chelsea come Espanyol in derby unstuck at Newcastle

n Raihan Mahmood

n Shishir Hoque

Bangladesh cricketers Nasir Hossian (R), Mominul Haque (C) and Abdur Razzak were seen in a relaxed mood during their practice session at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

15 Marcel corporate T20 from Nov 8

Premier hockey transfers from n Nov 15

n Minhaz Uddin Khan

n Raihan Mahmood

same time blamed themselves for losing the series with a game to spare.

“They are young and this is not the first time it has happened. When you do lose 2 wickets up front, the rest of the players have to step up. We haven’t been doing that. We have to give them a lot of confidence. Hopefully they can come good.

“We didn’t play well in all three facets of the game. We bowled well in patches, but we weren’t consistent over the full 50 overs. We are not at our normal best in fielding. We are not stringing together partnerships in batting,” explained Taylor.

A win in the second ODI meant Bangladesh registered their sixth successive win against New Zealand.

However, the tally is not the best for the Tigers as they had eight successive wins against Zimbabwe followed by the seven against Kenya.

“You’re disappointed any time you lose. You have to respect Bangladesh for their effort. They are ranked lower, but they have played better than us in the last couple of games. We can get the momentum and confidence from tomorrow (today) and hopefully take it to Sri Lanka,” said Taylor. l

The League Committee of Bangladesh Hockey Federation declared the new dates for the three-day Dhaka Premier Hockey League players’ transfer yesterday. As per the new schedule the players’ transfer will be held on November 15-17.

The meeting, attended by the representatives of seven premier league hockey clubs, also decided to roll the Club Cup Hockey from December 5, the Victory Day tournament from December 16 and the premier league from December 27. However, the participation of Dhaka Mohammedan, Mariner Young’s and the other four clubs, who are stuck with their decision of not playing under the current executive committee, are still uncertain.

However, the fate of the club that will not participate in the players’ transfer and the league is yet to be decided. Abahani, Usha, Sonali Bank, Ajax, Wanderers, Sadharan Bima and Bangladesh Sporting are likely to take part in the transfer window. It was learnt that if the league consists of six or seven clubs there will be no relegation process involved. The players’ transfer was earlier scheduled for October 29-31, but it was deferred by the committee in a meeting last week. l

Archers eliminated from Asian Championship n Shishir Hoque

New Zealand cricketers take a drinks break during their practice session at the SBNS yesterday prior to their third and final ODI against Bangladesh MUMIT M

Three-year old memories are what will keep Bangladesh oozing with confidence as the in-form Tigers look forward to repeat another ‘Banglawash’ over the visiting New Zealand, who have to toil hard for the consolation win in absence of their skipper Brendon McCullum.

Both sides will lock horns in the third and final ODI of the three-match series at the newly renovated Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Narayanganj today.

The Tigers received a boost as Tamim Iqbal, who was previously doubtful after suffering from lower abdomen pain, was declared fit for today’s game. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh team management indicated that they are likely to rest a fast bowler which means young pacer AlAmin Hossain is likely to make his ODI debut. The opposite happened to the wounded Kiwis side with McCullum being ruled out due to a sore back. The replacement for the hard-hitting batsman is still indecisive as veteran pacer Kyle Mills will lead the side in his absence.

If Bangladesh continues their winning streak today it will be their seventh consecutive victory over New Zealand, the longest run against a higher-ranked side. The home side already secured their 15th series win after winning the opening two ODIs. Bangladesh showed an atypical exhibition in the ODI series so far, rather than relying on one or two key players they witnessed different match winning performers in different games. Man of the series of the previous triumph over the

Kiwis in 2010 Shakib al Hasan’s replacement Naeem Islam, for whom Bangladesh have not actually felt the absence of their top man, is just an example.

Along with Naeem’s marvelous 84, skipper Mushfiqur Rahim’s 90 and Rubel Hossain’s stunning six-wicket haul, including a hat-trick, saw the Tigers clinch the first ODI. Mashrafe bin Mortaza didn’t take long to mark his return to international cricket after 11 months as he inspired the Tigers’ victory in the second ODI, where man of the match Sohag Gazi and Tamim Iqbal also showed glimpse of their true self.

A determined Bangladesh side will also try to improve their batting in the latter stage of the game as the batsmen repeatedly failed to take advantage of the batting powerplay in the first two ODIs. Meanwhile in Kiwis camp, their only consistent performer in the tour Ross Taylor has to step up to fill the gap created by McCullum, who is likely to be replaced by Luke Ronchi in the eleven.

The other positions will likely to be unchanged unless the team management considers giving fast bowler Adam Milne a chance.

Another factor that could make the status of today’s game different than the first two ODIs is the venue. It’s after almost seven years that Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah will be hosting an international game. The last ODI at the ground was played in 2006 between Bangladesh and Australia.

The ground has however been used for the ongoing Dhaka Premier League and teams complained of low bounce. So a low-scoring game is always on the cards with spinners playing a major role. l

Mashrafe remains focused

2-1 sounds better than 3-0: Taylor Visiting New Zealand are being loomed by the second consecutive whitewash against Bangladesh after losing the first two matches of the three-match series.

On top of that not having skipper Brendon McCullum for the last ODI today will add more pressure on the visitors at Fatullah’s Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium today.

“He (Brendon) has been ruled out from the game tomorrow (today). He is suffering from back pain. (Kyle) Mills will lead the team in his absence,” informed New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor in the pre-match press conference at SBNS yesterday.

In the game today the Kiwi’s will have the motive to avoid their second consecutive whitewash against a weaker opponent on pen and paper. Taylor said, “Every time you’re 2-0 down you have disappointment, and your confidence takes a hit. We have one more game in the series so we want to make it 2-1, which sounds better than 3-0. We have to play a lot better than we are playing at the moment.”

The former Kiwi skipper praised the young Bangladesh side, and at the

13

‘Banglawash’ on the card

Swadhin Bangla football team nominated for Independence Award Bangladesh Football Federation selected Swadhin Bangla Football team as their nominated recipient of the Independence Award yesterday.

The ministry of youth and sports asked the BFF to provide its nominations for the award and in an emergency committee meeting, presided over by Kazi Salahuddin, the president, BFF picked out Swadhin Bangla for the award. However, the ministry is the final authority to accept or reject the proposal.

Introduced in 1977, the Independence Award is the highest state award given by the government of Bangladesh. This award is bestowed upon Bangladeshi citizens or organisations in recognition of substantial contribution to one of many fields, including the War of Liberation, the language movement, education, literature, journalism, public service, science and technology, medical science, social science, song, games and sports, fine arts, rural development, and other areas.

Kazi Salahuddin thought that the Swadhin Bangla Football team deserves the award.

“We discussed all the details and decided that the Swadhin Bangla Football team deserves the award for its contribution in countries struggle of independence, it needs the recognition of state” said Salahuddin.

BFF senior vice president Abdus Salam Murshedy said they will ask the sports ministry to involve BFF before deciding to award any footballer because BFF may help the ministry to choose the right person. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Bangladesh archer Md Emdadul Haque Milon finished 17th in the recurve men’s event of the 18th Asian Archery Championships yesterday at the Songshan District, Taipei City in Chinese Taipei. Milon lost to Kuo Cheng-Wei of Chinese Taipei by 2/6 sets in the elimination round. Other Bangladeshi archers Md Roman Shana Sujan and Murong Prennoy also finished at the same position in the recurve men’s and continental quota boys’ event respectively. Bangladesh were placed ninth in the team event. l

Mazhar Uddin

Bangladesh pacer Mashrafe bin Mortaza, who returned to international action in the ongoing New Zealand series after almost a year, did not take much time to make his presence felt as he performed well so far and he informed that they are only looking forward to win the last match of the series.

“We haven’t talked about a whitewash, for us winning this match is important, after that we can probably talk about the whitewash, before that we can’t talk about it,” said Mashrafe at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National stadium yesterday.

The 30-year-old also reminded that there is no room for satisfaction after the two wins and the fast bowler wants to hold on to the flow to finish the series positively, “Actually, I don’t think there is any room for satisfaction. We have to hold the winning flow. Playing international cricket after a long time, there is a bit of pressure physically and from every side. So since we have a flow, it’s important to hold on to it,” he added.

However, the Narail Express informed that the Bangladesh team has

more room for improvement as he thinks the batting department is yet to click.

“If I say about the last two matches, I won’t say that we played well and won the matches. We did a lot of mistakes, they did a few more mistakes than us and that’s the reason why we won. Yeah fielding and bowling we were up to the mark, but in the batting, for instance,

We haven’t talked about a whitewash, for us winning this match is important, after that we can probably talk about the whitewash in the first match we lost quick wickets, and in the second match too we couldn’t grow any partnerships, so the combined performance has not yet taken place,” he said.

Mashrafe battled with injuries throughout his career and had gone through 11 major surgeries on his legs.

He planned his comeback this time after sustaining an ankle injury earlier this year. “After the injury this time, I tried to get back into the team for four to five months, for instance the Sri Lankan

series, the Zimbabwean series, when I couldn’t. I planned differently, worked with Stuart, so these plans were very organised and he helped me a lot. And when Bangladesh team returned to the country [from Zimbabwe] the fitness camp began. So all together, the focus was to improve in every aspect that helped me,” Mashrafe added.

The Narail Express also informed that the fast bowling department is doing very good for Bangladesh and praised the improvement where he said the fast bowlers are now ready to contribute to the team’s win.

“This is a positive thing, the pace bowling department, from our coaching aspects to our supporters, that after the pacers give a good start it helps the spinners, so in that aspect, when the pacers help win the match, there is a growth in confidence. Yes we can help them win matches on these wickets,” said Mashrafe.

He also said that they no more rely only on Shakib al Hasan and the current team has the confidence to play against any side in the world at their own backyard and they will have the same focus in the future also. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Raining champs PSG see off Lorient to go top

Ancelotti moving on from Blatter row

n AFP, Paris

Paris Saint Germain were singing in the rain at Parc des Princes on Friday, the French champions making light of the wintery weather to ease past Lorient 4-0 and extend their unbeaten Ligue 1 run to 23 games.

Goals from Lucas, Jeremy Menez and an Edison Cavani double lifted Laurent Blanc’s men three points clear of Monaco at the top of the table.

The performance was a perfect riposte to Blanc’s eve-of-match warning about the danger of complacency seeping into his swashbuckling team and their laboured 2-2 draw with Saint Etienne last time out.

PSG raced into a three minute lead when Brazil midfielder Lucas, unattended by the far post, volleyed the ball

Result PSG

Lucas 3, Menez 39, Cavani 43, 81

4-0

Lorient

past Lorient keeper Fabien Audard in a move begun by Lucas Digne.

Menez doubled their advantage five minutes before the interval, outfoxing Baptiste Reynet, who had come on to replace the injured Audard between the Lorient posts.

The Ligue 1 champions were running riot in the rain and Cavani’s header made it three after stoic work by Lucas to tighten their grip on the game before they headed off to the dressing rooms.

Lorient never looked capable of fighting their way back and the final word fittingly went to PSG when Cavani fired in a rebound after a late corner taken by Menez to cap a good night’s work in the French capital.

That was the Uruguayan’s ninth of the season and he now heads the Ligue 1 scoring charts.

While Lorient were left hovering just three points above the relegation zone for PSG this win will act as an ideal springboard to next week’s Champions League date with Anderlecht. l

n AFP, Madrid

Manchester City's Yaya Toure (C) celebrates after scoring against Norwich during their English Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England yesterday

Seventh heaven for Man City

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has welcomed Sepp Blatter’s apology for comments he made about Cristiano Ronaldo, but says the FIFA president ought to think more before he speaks.

Blatter enraged Madrid and Ronaldo himself by describing him as a “commander on the field”, whilst also saying he preferred four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi to the Portuguese when speaking to a group of students at Oxford University last week.

After complaints to FIFA by Madrid and the Portuguese Football Federation, Blatter apologised for any offence caused and described Ronaldo as an “exceptional” player. “It surprised me a lot, Cristiano is very professional. He gives everything and I can’t say anymore,” Ancelotti said on Friday. l AP

United stroll past Fulham, Newcastle rain on Chelsea’s parade n AFP, London Manchester United overcame Fulham and Manchester City smashed seven goals past Norwich City in the Premier League on Saturday, but Chelsea were dealt a shock defeat at Newcastle United.

A day that also witnessed a freak goal by Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic was set to conclude with a table-topping affair between leaders Arsenal and closest rivals Liverpool.

Despite a disappointing start to the season, United have now gone six games without defeat in all competitions following a 3-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage.

David Moyes’s side went 3-0 up inside 22 minutes, with Antonio Valencia tapping in a ninth-minute opener from

Wayne Rooney’s square pass.

Robin van Persie’s emphatic finish from Adnan Januzaj’s measured through ball made it 2-0 and the Dutchman then centred for Rooney to add a third.

Alex Kacaniklic pulled a goal back for Fulham in the 65th minute with a shot that deflected in off Rooney, but the champions saw out a victory that elevated them to within two points of the top four.

City moved into the Champions League places after bouncing back from a 2-1 loss at Chelsea last weekend by thrashing Norwich 7-0 at the Etihad Stadium.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini created a stir by dropping goalkeeper Joe Hart following a succession of blunders, but all the action came at the other end as his forwards put Norwich to the sword.

The breakthrough came in the 16th minute, the ball looping fortuitously

into the net after Sergio Aguero’s shot was blocked by Michael Turner and hit Bradley Johnson before crossing the line for an own goal.

Aguero teed up David Silva for the second, with Matija Nastasic heading home from a corner before Aguero found Alvaro Negredo for the fourth goal in only the 36th minute.

Yaya Toure added a fifth with a sumptuous free-kick on the hour before Aguero bludgeoned home in the 71st minute and substitute Edin Dzeko added a late seventh.

Chelsea could have gone top with a victory at Newcastle, but instead they went down 2-0 on a rain-soaked afternoon at St James’ Park.

John Terry twice went close for Chelsea in the first half, hitting the bar with a header from a corner and then seeing an effort cleared off the line by Davide Santon.

However, Newcastle took a 68thminute lead when Yoan Gouffran converted Yohan Cabaye’s free-kick with a diving header and Loic Remy sealed Chelsea’s fate with a minute to play.

Chelsea’s defeat saw them slip to third place, with Liverpool overtaking them on goal difference, while Newcastle climbed to ninth.

Begovic claimed the quickest goal of the season to date with his first touch at the Britannia Stadium, sending a high ball down the pitch that bounced just outside the penalty area and looped over Southampton counterpart Artur Boruc.

However, Jay Rodriguez’s 42ndminute header from a raking James Ward-Prowse cross gave Southampton a 1-1 draw that kept Mauricio Pochettino’s side in the top five.

Second-bottom Sunderland endured a miserable day at northeast

Results Fulham

1-3

Man United

Hull

1-0

Sunderland

Man City

7-0

Norwich

Newcastle

2-0

Chelsea

Stoke

1-1

Southampton

West Brom

2-0

Crystal Palace

West Ham

0-0

Aston Villa

Kacaniklic 65

Cuellar 25-og

Valencia 9, Van Persie 20, Rooney 22

Johnson 16-og, Silva 20, Nastasic 25, Negredo 36, Toure 60, Aguero 71, Dzeko 86 Gouffran 68, Remy 89 Begovic 1

Berahino 45, McAuley 83

Rodriguez 42

rivals Hull City, whose manager Steve Bruce enjoyed a 1-0 win over his former club thanks to a 25th-minute Carlos Cuellar own goal.

It was an afternoon tinged with disgrace for Sunderland manager Gus Poyet, who saw captain Lee Cattermole and Andrea Dossena shown straight red cards for dangerous tackles shortly before half-time. l

EPL braced for first Welsh derby n AFP, Cardiff

Barcelona's Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez celebrates after scoring against RCD Espanyol during their Spanish league match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Friday AFP

Barca down Espanyol in derby n AFP, Madrid Barcelona extended their lead at the top of La Liga on Friday as they overcame stiff resistance from Espanyol to win the Catalan derby 1-0 at the Camp Nou. Alexis Sanchez scored the only goal of the game midway through the second-half when he tapped home Neymar’s pinpoint cross to score for the third consecutive game.

However, it was another frustrating evening for Lionel Messi as he failed to score for a fourth consecutive La Liga match.

Barca now lead second-placed Atletico Madrid by four points and Real Madrid by nine with both sides from the capital having played a game less.

And despite a slightly flat performance overall, Martino was delighted to round off a busy week with a 100 percent record.

“In the past six days we have played three games, including a Clasico and a derby and deserved to win all three. We scored six goals and conceded just one and even that was in stoppage time.

“Our play hasn’t always been excel-

lent, but we have played in the Barcelona way and deserved to win the games.”

The hosts were almost back to full strength after resting a host of firstteam regulars for the 3-0 win over Celta Vigo in midweek as Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Neymar all returned, whilst Martin Montoya deputised for the injured Adriano at left-back.

However, the toll of five games in 13 days appeared to affect the Spanish champions as their build-up play

Result Barcelona

Sanchez 68

1-0

Espanyol

was laboured in the first-half and they caused Espanyol very few problems.

Kiko Casilla was forced into an early save from Alexis Sanchez after nice work by Iniesta and Messi.

But it was the visitors who had the best chance of the half when Victor Sanchez sneaked in behind Dani Alves and Victor Valdes had to race from his line to turn the midfielder’s effort behind.

Barca did come to life just before the break as Iniesta’s volley from the edge of the area was parried by Casilla before Alves struck the post from similar range.

The pattern continued after the restart with Espanyol happy to sit 10 men behind the ball and wait for Barca.

Martino’s men nearly made the breakthrough on 54 minutes when Casilla produced a fine save to turn away Messi’s flicked header.

Neymar then bent a stunning effort inches wide of Casilla’s left-hand post as the pressure built from Barca.

And it was the Brazilian who finally unlocked the Espanyol defence as his wonderful low cross between the legs of two defenders left Sanchez with the simplest of finishes at the back post to register his seventh goal of the season.

Messi saw a free-kick fly just wide with nine minutes remaining as Barca went in search of the goal that would kill the game off.

Substitute Pedro Rodriguez ought to have doubled the advantage when he fired into Casilla’s legs two minutes from time, but Barca held on to register their 10th clean sheet in 17 games this season.l

The English top flight will experience the fire and fury of a Welsh derby for the first time on Sunday when Cardiff City host Swansea City in the Premier League.

Cardiff ’s promotion from the Championship in May means that there are now two teams from Wales doing battle among the English elite and passions are expected to run high at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Swansea are becoming an established Premier League force, finishing 11th and ninth since being promoted in 2011 and winning last season’s League Cup, but they will be overtaken by Cardiff if they lose on Sunday.

Located 42 miles apart on the south Wales coast, the two teams are fierce rivals and their head-to-head encounters tend to be tempestuous affairs.

Old wounds were reopened this week when it was revealed that referee Mike Dean will officiate the game, four years after he was struck on the fore-

head by a coin thrown from the stands during the same fixture.

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay said he had no concerns about Dean’s appointment, describing him as a “very good referee”, but he admits that the game has a singular context.

Mackay has endured a difficult few weeks, having seen his trusted head of recruitment Iain Moody dismissed and replaced by a 23-year-old Kazakh, Alisher Apsalyamov, with no known experience in professional football.

Reports in the British media claim Apsalyamov has been asked to step down while the government investigates his visa situation, but Swansea manager Michael Laudrup has downplayed the significance of the off-pitch upheaval.

Cardiff have won just one of their last seven league games and sit only a point above the relegation zone, but Mackay has no new injury problems to contend with. Williams and Cardiff veteran Craig Bellamy are likely to be two of only three Welsh players to start the match -- alongside Cardiff left-back Neil

Taylor — but Laudrup says the game’s significance will not be lost on his foreign contingent. Andre Villas-Boas has warned Tottenham cannot afford further setbacks if they want to feature in the Premier League title race.

Spurs have already suffered two defeats this season and head to Everton on Sunday looking to avoid a repeat of last season’s loss at Goodison Park.

And, having seen his team narrowly fail to claim a place in the Champions League last season, Tottenham manager Villas-Boas knows his team cannot afford to throw points away again this time around.

Meanwhile, Everton midfielder Leon Osman admits Tottenham deserve credit for the way they have performed without Gareth Bale following his departure to Real Madrid just before the transfer deadline.

Everton were pipped to a Europa League place by Tottenham last season and Osman believes if they can finish above Spurs in this campaign they will bring continental football back to Goodison Park.l

O’Neill, Keane set for Ireland

Bayern equal record with Hoffenheim win

Martin O’Neill is due to be appointed manager of the Republic of Ireland with Roy Keane as his assistant, according to reports in the British media on Saturday.

Ireland, who missed out on a place at next year’s World Cup in Brazil, have been without a permanent head coach since Giovanni Trapattoni left by mutual consent following a defeat by Austria in September.

Northern Irishman O’Neill, 61, last managed Sunderland, who sacked him in March this year, and has also taken charge of Leicester City, Celtic and Aston Villa.

Former Manchester United captain Keane, 42, played 67 games for Ireland, but he has not worked as a coach since his dismissal as manager of Ipswich Town in January 2011. He has since been working as a television pundit.

Ireland are due to host Latvia in a friendly on November 15 before travelling to face Poland in Poznan four days later.

According to a report on the BBC website, O’Neill could be officially appointed manager before the squad is announced for those two games on Tuesday.l

n AFP, Berlin

Results

Bayern Munich equalled the record for the longest unbeaten run in the history of the Bundesliga with a 2-1 win at Hoffenheim on Saturday.

The hard fought result was enough to extend their remarkable record of not having lost a top-flight game in more than a year.

In doing so, they have equalled the all-time Bundesliga record of 36 matches unbeaten set by Hamburg between January 1982 and January 1983.

They can own the record outright by avoiding defeat against neighbours Augsburg next weekend.

Pep Guardiola’s side trailed at the Rhein-Neckar Arena in Sinsheim when teenage defender Niklas Suele converted in the 34th minute after Manuel Neuer made a hash of dealing with a corner.

However, the visitors were level inside five minutes when Franck Ribery’s free-kick took a huge deflection off Mario Mandzukic to trump Koen Casteels in the home goal. Then Thomas Mueller secured the win with quarter of an

Nuremberg

0-3

SC Freiburg

Hoffenheim

1-2

Bayern Munich

Hamburg

0-2

M'gladbach

Braunschweig

1-0

Leverkusen

Hertha Berlin

0-2

Schalke 04

Dortmund

6-1

VfB Stuttgart

n AFP, London

Schüle 34

Kruse 23, 63

Kumbela 81

Klaus 57, Darida 79, Mehmedi 88

Mandzukic 39, Mueller 75

Szalai 26, Draxler 90+4

Papastathopoulos 19, Reuss 22, Lewandowski 54, 56, 72, Aubameyang 81

Haggui 13

hour remaining when he tucked the ball in after a flurry of shots and rebounds in the Hoffenheim area.

Dortmund tore apart Stuttgart with a 6-1 win at the Signal-Iduna Park on Friday, coming from behind with Robert Lewandowski scoring a hat-trick to take his personal tally for the season to nine league goals. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

15

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Rohit’s 209 key as India win series n Agencies

India completed a 57-run win in the final one-day against Australia to win the series 3-2 after a high-scoring thriller at Bengaluru on Saturday despite a fighting century

by James Faulkner

Brief Score

India: 383/6 in 50 overs Rohit 209, Dhoni 62, Doherty 2/74 Australia: 384 all out in 50 overs Faulkner 116, Maxwell 60, Shami 3/52 Result: India won by 57 runs MOM: Rohit Sharma (India) Rohit Sharma celebrates his double century during the 7th ODI against Australia at Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru yesterday

Quick Bytes

Federer and Djokovic set up Paris showdown Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer will play each other for the first time this year after both won their quarter-final ties at the Paris Masters on Friday. Djokovic swept into the semi-finals with a rapidfire 6-1, 6-4 win over Stanislas Wawrinka, while Federer came through a second set wobble to edge Juan Martin del Potro 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. It will be the 30th meeting between the two, but the first since Djokovic defeated the Swiss great in the ATP World Tour final in London a year ago. World number one and top seed Rafael Nadal, meanwhile, stayed on course for a record sixth Masters Series title in the same year as he swatted aside the uncertain challenge of French number one Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-1. His semifinal opponent will be titleholder and fellow Spaniard David Ferrer who came from a set down to oust Tomas Berdych 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. Djokovic, Paris Masters champion in 2009, said that Federer was having a strong finish to what had been a disappointing season. “Roger is probably experiencing the worst season that he had in last 10 years, but he’s still a player to beat in every tournament, because he’s Roger Federer, because he has won 17 Grand Slams, and we all know how successful a career he has,” the Serb said.

– AFP

Day’s Watch ESPN 5:00PM La Liga 2013/14 Getafe v Valencia English Premier League 2013/14 7:45PM Everton v Tottenham 10:00PM Cardiff City v Swansea Star Sports 2 6:45PM F1 World Championship Abu Dhabi GP, Main Race Star Sports 8:00PM Italian Serie A 2013/14 Lazio v Genoa 10:00PM La Liga 2013/14 At Madrid v At Bilbao 12:00AM Levante v Granada 1:30AM Malaga v Real Betis Star Cricket Italian Serie A 2013/14 8:00PM Udinese v Inter Milan 1:45AM Torino v Roma Ten Action French Ligue 1 2013/14 10:00PM Montpellier v Nantes 2:00AM Lille v AS Monaco

AP

(116).

After India made 383-6 riding on a maiden double century by Rohit Sharma (209), Australia lost wickets at regular intervals during the run chase stumbling to 74-4 in the 17th over.

Haddin made 40 with seven boundaries before Maxwell and Watson launched a fierce counter attack.

Maxwell smashed the fastest half century by an Australian of 60 off just 22 balls with belting seven sixes and three boundaries.

Watson clubbed six sixes and two boundaries in a 28-ball 49.

It seemed all over when Australia stumbled to 211-8 in 30.1 overs.

But Faulkner kept alive their hopes smashing his maiden ODI century before being last man out.

McKay (18) featured in a 115run stand for the ninth wicket with Faulkner whose knock of 116 off 73 balls was studded with 11 fours and six sixes.

Vinay Kumar went for plenty with his nine overs costing 102. Shami had the best figures of three for 52 while Jadeja claimed three for 73.

India won an extraordinary match in which it rained a record 38 sixes despite a valiant attempt by Australia to

Gazi Tank maintains solo lead n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Brief Scores

Gazi Tank Cricketers registered a threewicket win over Prime Bank CC to maintain their top spot in the Dhaka Premier League at Bogra’s Shaheed Chandu Stadium yesterday.

Gazi’s decision to bowl first paid them big dividend as Prime, who made 363 in their last match against Kalabagan CA, were restricted to 191-8. It was Taibur Parvez’s 63 that helped Prime reach the respectable total as they were at one point reeling at 75 for five.

Ravi Bopara and Mahmudul Hasan also scored 26 runs each. Gazi’s foreign recruit Jacob Oram was successful with the ball as he picked up three wickets conceding 28 runs while spinner Arafat Sunny bagged two wickets.

In reply, Ashar Zaidi’s 68 and Rakibul Hasan’s 55 led Gazi Tank to the victory in 48 overs losing seven wickets.

Gazi Tank is leading the league with 12 points from eight games. Prime Doleshwar and Mohammedan Sporting

Gazi Tank v Prime Bank Prime Bank 191/8 in 50 overs (Taiabur Parvez 63, Jacob Oram 3/28) Gazi Tank 192/7 in 48.2 overs (Ashar Zaidi 68, Rakbul Hasan 55, Ravi Bopara 3/33) Result: Gazi Tank won by 3 wickets Victoria SC v Sk Jamal DC Victoria 251/10 in 46.2 overs (Jubayer Ahmed 89*, Lasith Abeyratne 59, Nahidul Islam 2/29) Sk Jamal 245/10 in 49.1 overs (Elton Chigumbura 91, Junaid Siddique 48, Robiul Islam 4/50) Result: Victoria SC won by 6 runs Club are on 10 points from eight games.

In the other game of the day, defending champions Victoria Sporting Club

defeated Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club by six runs at Rajshahi’s Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium. Victoria batted first to score 251 all out in 46 overs.

Jubayer Ahmed helped Victoria post the competitive score with an unbeaten 89 while wicketkeeper-batsman Lasith Abeyratne added 59 to the tally. Gulbadin Naib and Nahidul Islam picked up two wickets each for Sheikh Jamal.

In reply, Sheikh Jamal were all out for 245 to lose the game by the narrow margin. The side’s Zimbabwean recruit Elton Chigumbura topped the innings scoring 91 off 94 balls while opening batsman Junaid Siddique scored 48 runs. Victoria’s pacer Robiul Islam claimed four wickets to.

On the other hand, the matches scheduled for November were temporarily suspended due to unavoidable reasons by the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis yesterday. The CCDM in the press release mentioned of announcing a revised itinerary for the games in due course. l

overhaul an imposing target of 384.

A magnificent double century by Rohit Sharma (209) saw India make a mammoth 383-6 in 50 overs after being put into bat.

The Indian opener lit up M Chinnaswamy Stadium with his crackerjack knock on Diwali festival becoming the third batsman to pass 200 runs in ODIs with his second hundred coming off just 43 balls.

Virender Sehwag (219) and Sachin Tendulkar (200), both Indians to have scored double hundreds in ODIs. Sharma played a Gayle-like innings smashing a record 16 sixes, which is the highest in a one-day innings, and 12 fours with his 209 coming off just 158 balls.

Shikhar Dhawan (60) began the onslaught during a 112-run opening stand in 19 overs.

Left arm spinner Doherty pegged India back as they slumped to 207-4 by the 34th over.

But Sharma joined by skipper MS Dhoni went berserk thereafter with the pair featuring in an entertaining 167run stand for the fifth wicket in just 94 balls.

The Aussie attack missed Watson who pulled with a muscle injury after bowling five overs which went for 26.

But even he wouldn’t have been able to stop Sharma and Dhoni as they plundered 100 runs in the last five overs.

Dhoni was run out in the last ball of the innings for 62 off 38 balls slamming seven boundaries and two sixes, one of which sailed out of the ground.

“Getting 200 is a wonderful feeling.

Never thought I will get it. Idea was to stay on the wicket,” said Sharma speaking to a reporter after his knock.

“It’s a small ground. Runs are easy to come by when you are in. I just wanted to capitalise on it,” he added. l

Highest runs in an ODI innings Player V Sehwag (Ind)

Runs Balls 4s

Opp

Venue

Date

25

6s

7 146.97

SR

WI

Indore

8 Dec 2011

158

12

16 132.27

Aus

Bangalore

2 Nov 2013

147

25

3 136.05

SA

Gwalior

24 Feb 2010

219

149

RG Sharma (Ind)

209

SR Tendulkar (Ind)

200*

CK Coventry (Zim)

194*

156

16

7 124.35

Ban

Saeed Anwar (Pak)

194

146

22

5 132.87

India

Bulawayo 16 Aug 2009 Chennai

21 May 1997

Most sixes in an ODI innings Player

Runs Balls 4s

6s

Opp

Venue

Rohit Sharma (Ind)

209

16 132.27

SR

Aus

Bangalore

2 Nov 2013

Date

Ban

Dhaka

11 Apr 2011

158

12

Shane Watson (Aus) 185*

96

15

15 192.70

Xavier Marshall (WI) 157*

118

11

12 133.05 Canada

King City 22 Aug 2008

Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) 134

65

11

11 206.15

Pak

Singapore

2 Apr 1996

Shahid Afridi (Pak)

40

6

11 255.00

SL

Nairobi

4 Oct 1996

102

Afridi, Irfan bowl Pakistan to series-levelling win n AFP, Dubai Leg-spinner Shahid Afridi and paceman Mohammad Irfan shared six wickets as Pakistan thumped South Africa by 66 runs in the second day-night international in Dubai on Friday.

Afridi took 3-26 and Irfan finished with 3-53 as Pakistan defended a low total of 209 to square the five-match series at 1-1.

South Africa pulled off a sensational one-run win in the first match in Sharjah on Wednesday.

The remaining matches will be played in Abu Dhabi (November 6 and 8) and in Sharjah (November 11).

Saeed Ajmal (2-15) also shared the bowling spoils as South Africa were bowled out for 143 in 40.4 overs with Ryan McLaren top-scoring with 29 not out.

“It was a really good performance, es-

pecially after getting out for a low score, our bowlers did the job for us again,” said Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq. South African captain AB de Villiers admitted his team’s batting was a concern.

“We have a few issues in the batting and it’s up to us to turn it around. I’m

Brief Score Pakistan 209 (Shehzad 58, McLaren 4-34) beat South Africa 143 (McLaren 29*, Afridi 3-26) by 66 runs very disappointed. Pakistan were too good for us.”

Misbah attacked with slow bowlers as early as the fifth over, introducing Mohammad Hafeez who dried up the runs after Colin Ingram fell for four in the second over of the innings.

Ajmal accounted for Graeme Smith (14), who was bowled off his legs with South Africa on 43. l

Marcel corporate T20 from Nov 8 n Raihan Mahmood To provide a breath of fresh air in the hectic day to day corporate activities the MARCEL 3rd T20 Corporate Cricket Tournament comprising 28 renowned business houses starts in four venues across the capital from November 8.

The tournament is organised by Udyachal Club of Iqbal Road, Mohammadpur, and arranged under the auspices of ASEMS. The event will see the winners get a purse of Tk100,000 while the runners-up Tk50,000. In addition, the champion team will also carry home a 32” LED TV and the runners-up team will be awarded with a Walton refrigerator. All the man of the matches will also get gift hampers provided by the sponsors. Matches will be held at four fields inside Dhaka Residential Model School, two grounds of Dhaka Military Museum, Mohammadpur Eidgah ground and Nobin Shangho Club ground.

Nazmul Hasan, president of Bangladesh Cricket Board and one of the founding members of the club will inaugurate the tournament at the Residential School ground. Green Delta Insurance is the insurance sponsor and they will be providing the umbrella of Peoples Personal Accident Policy for all the participants along with insurance worth Tk1m for the man of the tournament for one year.

The participating teams are Philip

Morris International, Chevron, Centro Group, Marico Bangladesh Ltd, Eastern Bank Ltd, Beximco Pharma, Computer Source Ltd, DBL Group, Anowara Group, Bangla Cat Ltd, Walton, Apollo Hospitals Dhaka Ltd, Dhaka Tribune, Confidence Group, Spotlight, Reliance Insurance Ltd, LM Ericsson, Qubee, Multi securities, Bando Design, RACE Management PCL, ROBI, Energypac, ICDDRB, Square Group, Santos Sangu Field Limited (SSFL), Green Delta Insuranc e and IDLC. MARCEL is the title sponsor of the tournament while Boishakhi TV, Dhaka Tribune, Radio Dhaka FM 90.4, Bishwa Darpan and Risingbd.com are the media partners. The total budget of the tournament is estimated around Tk1.8m. In a press conference held at the BOA auditorium yesterday Shafikul Azam Rokon, the president of Udayachal Club, Abul Ahsan Ahmed, chief coordinator of the tournament, Uday Hakim, operative director of RB Group, Mursalin A Chowdhury, senior executive director of Green Delta Insurance Company Ltd and Md Atikur Rahman, brand manager, PRAN RFL Group, presented the meet to the press.

Walton won the last years edition that was participated by 32 teams but this time the number has reduced as the orgnaisers imposed a new rule of not allowing contractual players in the meet. No professional cricketer is allowed to play in the tournament. l

Representatives of the Marcel T20 Corporate Cricket concentrates towards a point in the press conference at the BOA auditorium yesterday RAJIB DHAR

Tinku’s father passes away n Minhaz Uddin Khan The president and members of the executive committee of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) condoled the passing away of Al-haj Bazlul Karim, father of board member Nazmul Karim Tinku, through a media release yesterday.

Al-haj Bazlul Karim died in Dhaka yesterday morning from old age complications. He was 85.

The board extended heartfelt sympathies to the family of the departed and prayed for the salvation of his soul. l

MSC’s winning start n Raihan Mahmood

Reigning champions Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club Ltd made a winning start beating title contenders Bangladesh Navy Chess Team by 3.5-0.5 points in the first round of the Rupahali Sarees Premier Division Chess League at the hall room of the Bangladesh Chess Federation yesterday.

Mohammedan, powered by Tajikistan GM Amonatov Farukh and Russian GM Volkov Sergey shrugged off the challenges as Farukh beat FM Taibur Rahman, Volkov outplayed GM

Reefat Bin Sattar along with Bangladeshi GM Ziaur Rahman’s win against GM Abdulla Al-Rakib. GM Enamul Hossain Razib of Navy drew with Mohammedan’s IM Minhazuddin Ahmed Sagar. KM Shahidullah, vice-president of Bangladesh Chess Federation and Shafiullah Al-Munir, the CEO of INDEX Group inaugurated the league.

In the other matches of the day Titas Club beat Pritam-Prism Chess Club, Narayanganj, 4-0. Leonine Chess Club beat Access Group Chess Club by 3-1 while Gopalganj Chess Club beat Faith Chess Club by 3.5 -0.5 points. l

16 EC to not hold dialogues with political parties n Mohammad Zakaria Election Commission has decided to announce the polls schedule for the next parliamentary elections without holding any dialogue with the registered political parties.

EC officials think that it will be pointless as the two major alliances hold antagonistic viewpoint on the polls-time government.

If the commission holds dialogue BNP-led 18-party alliance will not possibly join the dialogue and it will be completely meaningless, EC officials said.

According to the EC roadmap, the commission is to sit with the registered political parties, civil society, senior journalists and non-government organisations before announcing the polls schedule.

Election Commissioner Zabed Ali said the commission had no plans now to sit with the parties before the next parliamentary elections.

“The EC is now working hard to hold the next parliamentary election in free, fair and impartial manner.”

Posing a question another Election Commissioner Md Shah Newaz said: “How can the commission hold dialogue with the political parties? If any political party does not come after the invitation of the EC, bad message will be sent to people.”

The EC would not take the risk of holding dialogue, said the commissioner, with the political parties under the present situation.

“The commission will upload the draft electoral code of conduct on its website. Political parties and citizens can send their opinions and suggestions on it.”

When asked, former election commissioner M Sakhawat Hussain responded with an opposite view: “It would be suicidal decision for EC not to hold dialogues. The previous commission held dialogue three times with the political parties on the election and electoral laws.”

He, however, also deemed that the present situation is not appropriate for holding dialogue. The EC was needed to do it with its main stake holders earlier.

A senior EC official said there was no situation prevailing to hold dialogue with the political parties right now as the country’s two major political parties are at loggerheads on the pollstime government.

“The commission is now busy with the preparation of holding the next parliamentary elections as per the constitution.”

Earlier, all election commissioners including the chief election commissioner said the EC would sit with political parties, if needed. According to the constitution, the next parliamentary election must be held by January 24.

Meanwhile, the incumbent EC held dialogue with the political parties, civil society and senior journalists on the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies and updating voter list from November 26 to December 6 in 2012.

But BNP and its allies did not participate in the EC’s dialogue. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Two people take the risk of their lives, standing on the wall of the tiger’s enclosure, to see tigers at the Bangabandhu Safari Park. The photo was taken on Friday

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

New med schools start admission process without final approvals n Moniruzzaman Uzzal Eleven new medical colleges, which had reportedly not yet received final approvals from the authorities concerned, have allegedly started promotional activities for admitting new students.

Concerned medical education officials said each new medical college needed final approval from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare before they could admit students.

However, several health sector officials gave contradicting statements on the current status of the new med schools.

Seeking anonymity, a health ministry official informed that the approvals had already been given to the new colleges.

However, Prof Dr ABM Abdul Hannan, director of medical education at Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), told the Dhaka Tribune that to his knowledge - no new medical college had received final approval for admitting students.

Another official from the DGHS, preferring to stay unnamed, said Health Minister AFM Ruhal Hoque had taken

Aduri sits beside her mother at a press conference yesterday

Back from the dead, little Aduri has demanded punishment for her employer who had allegedly tortured her and left her injured in a dustbin more than a month ago.

“Nodi madam cut my throat with a blade. She singed my skin with a hot iron. You people please bring her to justice. Nodi used to give me rotten rice to eat. She also put fire in my mouth and burnt my tongue. I hope no other girl has to go through these,” 11-year old Aduri said in a press conference in the capital yesterday.

The authorities of the Dhaka Med-

DNA test results of Rana Plaza victims to go to ministry today n Moniruzzaman Uzzal

ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK

the files of all the new medical colleges just before they were set to receive final approvals.

A large amount of money was changing hands under the table, the official claimed, adding that some medical college owners had bribed Tk40m-Tk50m for securing the final approval.

There are allegations that many influential persons, including the president, several ministers and state ministers, medical university teachers, and senior health sector officials, have direct or indirect stakes at the ownership of the colleges.

Sources said the names of the new med schools are Addin Basundhara Medical College, Shah Makdum Medical College, Care Medical College, United Medical College, Universal Medical College, Advocate Abdul Hamid Medical College, Khulna City Medical College, Skyview Medical College, Port City Medical College, US Medical College and Rangpur Medical College.

The Dhaka Tribune also found that a signboard reading “Khulna City Medical College, Dhaka Office” had been put up at Popular Medical College of Dhanmondi.

Khulna City Medical College, reportedly a venture of the Popular Group, al-

Aduri wants her torturer punished

n Mohammad Jamil Khan

Sunday, November 3, 2013

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

ical College Hospital (DMCH), where Aduri was being treated, organised the presser to mark Aduri’s farewell.

Yesterday she was handed over to her mother after having undergone treatment for more than a month.

Aduri said she was feeling well, expressed her desire to get educated and become a nurse or a police officer when she grew up.

Police recovered a battered and bruised Aduri from a dustbin in the city’s Baridhara area on September 23.

She was admitted to the One Stop Crisis Centre of DMCH three days later.

Earlier this month, police pressed charge sheet against Nodi and her

mother Ishrat – both now in jail – in a case filed in connection with the torture by Aduri’s uncle.

A specialised medical board was formed to look after Aduri’s treatment.

The little girl, who weighed a meagre 17kg, now weighs a relatively healthy 25kg.

At the press conference, Aduri’s mother Shafia Begum said she did not have words to express her feelings after getting her daughter back. With teary eyes, she demanded exemplary punishment for Nodi, Aduri’s employer.

She also called upon everyone to extend their support to her family of nine children. The DMCH authorities have opened a bank account for Shafia Begum so that people could financially help Aduri. The savings account number is 25605, Janata Bank, DMCH branch.

Addressing the press conference, DMCH Director Mostafizur Rahman said: “We are feeling genuinely happy to be able to hand Aduri over to her parents after curing her. Now she can even dance although she was unable to stand just a few days ago.”

The DMCH director also said although Aduri had been fully cured physically, she was still to get over the psychological trauma. He, however, expressed hopes that she would recover from the trauma soon.

At the end of the conference, the hospital authorities handed over Tk10,000 cash, toys, clothes and ornaments to Aduri. l

legedly set up its Dhaka office to circulate information and admit student for the 2013-14 academic session, without having received the final approval from the ministry.

Sources said a total of 25 new private medical colleges received permission to open during the current government’s tenure, with the 11 med schools in question getting primary approvals very recently.

The country currently has 65 private medical colleges, a figure which stood at 40 in 2008.

On April 6 last year, the health minister told a press conference: “The government will not give permission for setting up any more new medical college in the country right now, as it finds the existing ones enough to meet the present demand.”

However, the declaration went in vain.

Moazzem Hossain, president of Bangladesh Private Medical College Association (BPMCA), recently told the Dhaka Tribune that the government should not go for any more new medical college.

Focus should instead be put on the quality of existing medical colleges to ensure that they get properly educated

doctors, he added.

Prof Dr Rashid-e-Mahbub, former president of Bangladesh Medical Association, said the news of giving approval to 11 private medical college seemed like an “unrealistic decision.”

Saying there was a huge crisis of trained and experienced teachers in the existing private medical colleges, Dr Mahbub raised doubts on how the 11 new medical colleges would run without teachers.

It was learnt that most of the new med schools failed to apply for approval within January-April of the year, in accordance with the Private Medical College Establishment and Management Policy 2011.

The authorities of the new medical colleges also failed to open full-fledged hospitals with at least 250-bed capacity, two years prior to submitting applications to the ministry. The occupancy of the hospital also needed to be more than 75%.

Replying to a query recently, Health Minister AFM Ruhal Hoque said the new medical colleges would get final or academic approvals, if they met all the preconditions for admitting students this year. l

Hartal call makes JSC, JDC exams uncertain n Mushfique Wadud Only 24 hours are left before junior certificate examinations start tomorrow as per schedules, but roughly two million school and madrasa children, their guardians and teachers are not sure whether exams will be held or not since the opposition has announced 60-hour hartal.

The examinations are scheduled to begin from November 4, the first day of the 60-hour nonstop countrywide hartal called by the BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance.

About 2.1 million students have registered to take the public examinations for class VIII – junior certificate exams (JSC) for schools and junior dakhil certificate (JDC) for madrasas.

The examinations are scheduled to begin from November 4 and will end on November 20.

In JSC, Bangla First Paper examination scheduled for tomorrow (November 4) and Bangla Second Paper on November 6 while in Junior Dakhil Madrasa (JDC), Quran Majid exam is scheduled for tomorrow and Arabic First Paper on November 6, the last day of the hartal.

This year, the SSC, HSC, O level and A level examinees suffered a lot due to hartals called by the opposition. Several examinations were rescheduled due to hartals.

Many students have expressed their frustration at the uncertainty over examinations.

“How can we take preparation when we are not certain if examinations will be held or not?” said Sanjida Afrin who is taking grade-8 terminal examination from Viqarunnisa Noon School and College.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid informed reporters yesterday that decision on the examinations would be announced today.

Nahid urged the opposition to withdraw hartals considering the interest of students. “We announced the examinations timetable four months ago and have taken preparation accordingly. But the opposition called hartal just before the examinations start. I am worried and shocked,” he said.

Similar request was made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from her Rajbari public rally yesterday.

But BNP spokesperson Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, while announcing the hartal yesterday, skipped a direct reply whether JSC and JDC exams would be kept outside hartal purview.

Previous spell of 60-hartal ()ctober 27-29) coincided with ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels examinations, and exemption announcement came late when hartal was in progress and British authorities had already postponed the exams for a day. l

The National DNA Testing Laboratory at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital will send the test results of 321 unidentified victims of the Savar Rana Plaza disaster to the labour ministry today.

The laboratory finished all the formalities of preparing the reports of the DNA tests yesterday.

Laboratory Head Dr Sharif Akteruzzaman told the Dhaka Tribune that they would place the DNA test results before the labour ministry. He, however, declined to disclose the results before it was placed officially.

However, a reliable source said tests had been able to confirm the identities of around 300 unidentified victims.

The laboratory used Combined DNA Index System (Codis) software for sorting the DNA samples collected from the unidentified victims and their relatives.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation of USA donated the software to the Bangladesh government.

At least 321 victims of the April tragedy remained unidentified. More than 1,100 people were killed in the deadly building collapse, most of whom were women workers of the garment factories that the building housed.

Around 550 relatives, who claimed that their dear ones had been missing since the collapse, provided DNA samples. l

Pakistan Taliban appoints new chief n Tribune Desk The Pakistani Taliban yesterday appointed Khan Said alias Sajna, as their new head.

Said was appointed to the position after a US drone strike on Friday killed their leader Hakimullah Mehsud, Al Jazeera reported.

According to the Qatar-based news agency, the Shura, a consultative body of the Tehreek-e-Taliban, made the appointment.

Mehsud, who the US government had offered a $5m bounty for, was buried late on Friday after his death at a compound in the North Waziristan tribal district, AFP reported.

The killing of the young leader marks a major setback for the TTP, a coalition of factions that has claimed some of the most high-profile insurgent attacks in Pakistan in recent years.

His death also presents a major obstacle to the Pakistan government’s efforts to begin peace talks to end the TTP’s bloody six-year insurgency that has left thousands of soldiers, police and civilians dead.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was expected to send a delegation to begin talks with the militants, after getting the backing of a number of political parties to open dialogue with the TTP last month.

The Taliban’s leadership committee gathered at an undisclosed location yesterday in the North Waziristan tribal area, said the commanders and officials.

Witnesses in the towns of Mir Ali and Miran Shah reported that Mehsud’s supporters were firing at the drones in anger.

Mehsud was killed in a village outside Miran Shah when multiple missiles slammed into a compound just after a vehicle carrying the militant commander arrived. Four other suspected militants were killed including Mehsud’s cousin, uncle and one of his guards.

He was believed to have been behind a deadly suicide attack at a CIA base in Afghanistan, a failed car bombing in New York’s Times Square and brazen assaults in Pakistan that killed thousands of civilians and members of security forces. l

Hakimullah Mehsud

AP

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B2 Tourism Fair 2013 in Dhaka next month

B3 Stocks up on banks last week

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Business www.dhakatribune.com/business

Most banks report profit in Q3 9-month earnings of majority banks still negative; bankers see worst days ahead n Kayes Sohel Most of the country’s commercial banks have showed positive earnings for the third quarter (July-September) of this year, but their cumulative earnings in three quarters (January-September) still remain negative.

Out of 30 listed banks, 28 have so far declared their third quarter earnings – 15 showing positive earnings, few of them even recovering from heavy losses of the same quarter previous year, according to published earnings statements.

B3 STOCKS REBOUND ON BANKS Nine of them made profit this quarter, but it declined from the same quarter of the previous year while the remaining four incurred net losses.

During the nine month period of this year, the cumulative earnings of 21 companies, however, still remained in the negative territory with only seven showing very marginal profits.

‘This, coupled with the bearish trend of the stock market, has forced the banks to provision a substantial amount, which has cut the profit’ The banks continued to wrestle with the rising non-performing loans stemming mainly from the country’s ongoing political uncertainty, bankers said.

Political uncertainty, which discouraged private investment, and higher provisioning against non-performing loans (NPL) hit profitability, they said.

NPL is a loan on which the borrower is not making interest payments or repaying any principal. Banks normally set aside money to cover potential losses on loans (loan loss provisions) and write off bad debt in their profit and loss account.

Spillover effects of bad loans, which started to shot up from last year following a series of financial scams, continued this year too, bankers said. The situation might turn worse in the coming months because of deepening political chaos, they apprehended.

National Bank Ltd (NBL) was the worst performer posting a net loss of almost Tk4bn for the nine months ending September

30, down from the Tk1.3bn profit in the same period of 2012.

NBL was followed by Mutual Trust Bank, Exim Bank and One Bank.

“Political uncertainty holds back overall businesses, bringing down the banks earnings,” said Helal Ahmed Chowdhury, managing director of Pubali Bank. “Though economic growth remained positive over the last several years but credit growth was not much encouraging.”

On bank-to-bank varying profit, he said the banks that had to keep aside lesser amount of money for loan provisioning or recovered previous bad loans posted higher profits. “The banks with higher non-performing loans made lesser profit.”

He said the banks awash with huge liquidity had to face increased cost of fund, which also brought adverse impact on net profit.

The banks’ income mainly comes from two areas – core banking and capital market investment.

According to the Bangladesh Bank data, defaulted loan in the banking sector increased by more than 19% to Tk510bn as of March 31, 2013 from December last year.

The private borrowing grew by over 11% in August this year compared to about 20% in the corresponding month of last year.

Ali Reza Iftekhar, managing director of Eastern Bank, said higher provisioning due to rising NPL is the main reason behind the fall in net profits. “The business was very bad, so the profit was not satisfactory. Some even recorded higher profits. But the large provisioning has eaten up all the profits.”

He said: “This, coupled with the bearish trend of the stock market, has forced the banks to provision a substantial amount, which has cut the profit.”

Iftekhar sees more difficult days ahead in the run up to the general election. “Banks might see worse days in the coming months because of intensified political chaos.”

Banks that saw decline in their profits are First Security Bank, Al-Arafah Bank, AB Bank, Social Islami Bank, Eastern Bank, Trust Bank, Dhaka Bank and Islami Bank.

Banks that saw positive in their profits are United Commercial Bank, NCC Bank, Premier Bank, Jamuna Bank, City Bank, Bank Asia, Uttara Bank, Rupali Bank, Pubali Bank, Dutch-Bangla Bank, Mercantile Bank, Southeast Bank, IFIC Bank, Prime Bank and Shahjalal Bank. l

Bank Name

Q3 2013

Q3 2012

Growth

UCBL NCC Bank Premier Bank Jamuna Bank City Bank Bank Asia Uttara Bank Rupali Bank Pubali Bank DBBL Mercantile Bank Southeast Bank IFIC Prime Bank Shahajalal Bank Fist Security Bank Al-Arafah Bank AB Bank SIBL EBL Trust Bank Dhaka Bank Standard Bank Islami Bank One Bank Exim Bank MTBL NBL

468.32 105.75 866.63 170.68 209 246.23 404.77 56.35 199.37 566.74 568.98 282.4 620.7 1,084.93 628.69 179.88 625.63 225.72 97.26 65.61 52.41 23.01 10.81 2.01 -133.25 -333.5 -143.96 -1,988.69

94.65 21.82 -449.81 56.02 -243.94 -468.12 179.41 -267.77 98.33 319.33 346.31 183.31 455.44 903.01 573.82 188 657.47 277.74 270.27 344.27 378.99 216.39 148.81 832.35 145.92 202.82 -16.27 -185.54

395% 385% 293% 205% 186% 153% 126% 121% 103% 77% 64% 54% 36% 20% 10% -4% -5% -19% -64% -81% -86% -89% -93% -100% -191% -264% -985% -1172%

Bank Name

Bank Asia UCBL Rupali Bank IFIC Southeast Bank City Bank Uttara Bank DBBL Dhaka Bank EBL Fist Security Bank Mercantile Bank Al-Arafah Bank NCC Bank Standard Bank AB Bank Shahajalal Bank Trust Bank One Bank SIBL Islami Bank Jamuna Bank Pubali Bank Exim Bank MTBL Premier Bank NBL

Jan-Sept '13

Jan-Sept'12

Growth

736.23 1,526.93 802.19 1,236.63 1469.44 609.52 927.62 1,381.20 424.45 1,041.31 426.08 796.85 1,313.97 385.22 484.72 621.92 835.56 418.19 346.39 338.22 1,939.46 264.07 1,325.34 17.07 -107.73 -1,131.17 -3,856.20

262.48 723.77 450.65 712.12 1,201.60 550.33 887.19 1,553.84 497.3 1,226.97 507.68 1,045.78 1,783.83 629.12 796.88 1035.98 1,437.66 857.85 728.81 822.91 5,048.95 776.26 1,336.49 1,132.71 387.23 -373.82 1,208.24

180% 111% 78% 74% 22% 11% 5% -11% -14% -15% -16% -24% -26% -39% -39% -40% -42% -51% -52% -59% -62% -66% -83% -98% -128% -203% -419%

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Tourism Fair 2013 in Dhaka next month Organisers hope political unrest to ease by then n Tribune Report The three-day tourism fair is scheduled to be held in Dhaka next month, amid apprehension over the ongoing political unrest.

Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) is set to host the Bangladesh Travel and Tourism Fair (BTTF) 2013 from December 12 to 14 at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC).

TOAB President Taufiq Uddin Ahmed announced the schedule of the largest international travel event of Bangladesh at press conference in Dhaka yesterday.

The fair is to bring together local participants, business people from the tourism industry and other international participants from south Asian countries.

Participants are expected to promote their products and services to the visitors from 151 stalls to be set up at the fair venue. The local and foreign participants would have the privilege to take part at the seminars, press conferences and cultural shows on the sidelines.

Organisers expected the fair would be successful like previous occasions despite apprehension over the political unrest. “We would expect some political developments before the event,” an executive of the organisers told the Dhaka Tribune.

Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) President S N Manzur Murshed told the press conference of the difficulties being faced by the country’s tourism industry due to the ongoing political turmoil. He

Robi to hold 3.5G internet fair

n Muhammad Zahidul Islam The mobile operator Robi is going to hold a 3.5G internet fair from 16 November across the country.

Three ministries- ICT, Information and Health- will act as partners in the fair announced at a press conference in Dhaka yesterday. The fair is expected to cover 500 colleges in 429 thanas across the country during an approximately one month period, said Robi officials. Heath camps will also be organised alongside the internet fair, where the visitors can have free health check-ups.

It is aimed at building awareness about internet services among the communities and helping to transform the country into a knowledge-based economy. Robi hoped the internet fair will help to increase ICT literacy.

At the fair, the students of the respective colleges will have access to internet and strengthen their knowledge base.

The initiative will encourage the youths to cultivate a culture of online learning.

While speaking at the press conference, ICT Minister Mostafa Faruque Mohammad announced gifts for the students who will emerge as the best participants in the fair.

The event was attended by, among others, ICT Secretary Nazrul Islam Khan, Information Secretary Martuza Ahmed, Additional Secretary to Health Ministry Ayubur Rahman Khan and Robi’s chief marketing officer

The country’s real estate sector has launched first web portal lamudi.com.bd.

With its launch yesterday, anybody seeking to sell or rent flats or sell plots will be “able to easily attract the interested customers.”

Ambareen Reza, CEO of Lamudi Bangladesh said the site will reduce the cost and pressure to find out office space or house of choice of individual customers.

Erwin Sikma, CEO of Lamudi Asia, and Mukarram H Khan, senior vice president of REHAB, among others, were present at the launching ceremony in Dhaka.

Lamudi has already launched real estate platforms in 12 countries over the past five years, including Colombia, Kenya, Myanmar, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. l

Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) President S N Manzur Murshed speaking at a press conference in Dhaka yesterday TAHMIDUR RAHMAN urged the politicians to spare tourist transports from violence during the strikes.

He also urged the authorities to take steps for identifying tourist transports and having different coloured vehicle licence plates for the tourist transports, replicating the model already implemented in few of the neighbouring countries, including Nepal.

Regent Airways is going to be the airline

partner of the fair for the first time in the country, Managing Director Mashruf Habib told the press conference.

Eastern Bank Limited is the title sponsor of the event, jointly supported by Bangladesh Tourism Board, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation and The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI). l

Barua for effective laws to ensure food safety n Tribune Report Industries Minister Dilip Barua put emphasis on establishing a comprehensive and effective regulatory framework to ensure safe and quality products supply.

“It’s an urgent need to protect the rights of the consumers and establish a strong and effective regulatory mechanism,” said the minister.

‘Diversified export structure is needed for better trade benefit and the EU would provide all out cooperation to implement it’ He was speaking as chief guest at a workshop on “National Quality Policy” in Dhaka yesterday.

In association with the European Union and the Norwegian Agency for Development (Norad), the Ministry of Industries and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) jointly organised the workshop.

“We should think of our next generation and take the correct decision so they can breathe and live properly.”

Dilip Barua continued: “What we’re leaving for the next generation, the probable answer may be ‘money’ or ‘technology’, or a pollution free environment.”

Real estate portal launched n Tribune Report

“It will ease the way further development and improvement of quality infrastructure and standards to meet the demand of the nation in particular and the international market in general.”

Industries Secretary Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah, Head of Cooperation for EU Delegation to Bangladesh, Philippe Jacques and Unido’s Chief Technical Adviser David Holbourne also spoke at the inaugural session.

Project Director of Better Work and Standards Programme (BEST) Lutfor Rahman Tarafder presided over the session.

Philippe Jacques laid stress on products and export diversification saying that “products diversification helps to enlarge export volume.”

“Diversified export structure is needed for better trade benefit and the EU would provide all out cooperation to implement it,” he said.

Jacques said EU will remain engaged with Bangladesh in implementing all initiatives to improve standards.

He pointed out that Bangladesh enjoys duty and quota-free market access to the EU as a least developed country (LDC).

Representatives from trade bodies, foreign delegates and government participated in the workshop. l

City Bank promotes Sohail Hussain to MD and CEO n Tribune Business Desk City Bank promoted Sohail RK Hussain to Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, said a press release.

Previously, he was additional managing director and chief business officer of the bank.

Sohail Hussain obtained his MBA from IBA, Dhaka University. He started his career as a management trainee in ANZ Grindlays Bank in 1990 and joined City Bank as DMD and Head of Business in 2007.

The new MD represents City Bank in the boards of IIDFCL, IIDFCL securities and Ventura Investment Partners Bangladesh Limited. l

Prime Bank receives best bank award n Tribune Business Desk Prime Bank Limited (PBL) MD and CEO Md Ehsan Khasru recently received “Best Bank Award 2013” on behalf of the bank from Global Finance Publisher.

Global Finance Publisher and President Joseph Joseph Giarraputo handed over the awatd at a function in Washington DC recently, said a press release. .PBL achieved the “Best Bank Award 2013” from Bangladesh in the category of “World’s Best Emerging Markets Banks in Asia-Pacific 2013”.

The award was given based on bank’s growth in assets, profitability, strategic relationships, customer service, competitive pricing and innovative products.

Global Finance made their selections from the best emerging market banks in the region covering 22 countries after extensive consultations with expert bankers, corporate finance executives and analysts worldwide. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Stocks up on banks last week n Tribune Report Stock market rebounded amid volatility in the past week ended Thursday, breaking five consecutive weeks of losses.

Banking sector dominated the week on expectation of better-than-expected earnings as the sector gained more than 5% and accounted for 17% of the total turnover. The benchmark index DSEX gained 168 points or 4.4% to close at 3,967 at the end of the week, after crossing 4000-mark in several sessions.

The blue chip index DS30 was up 47 points or 3.5% to 1,408. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, rose 320 points to 7,762.

Liquidity improved significantly as the total turnover value stood at Tk17.5bn on DSE compared to the previous week’s total value.

The daily average turnover was Tk3.5bn, which was 75.8% higher than the previous week. “Mixed market scenario was observed amid increased participation. Scrip-wise swings were practical alongside investors’ preference in fundamentally strong and lucrative scrips centering on recent earnings declarations,” said IDLC Investment in its weekly market analysis.

It said the week mostly showcased impact of investors’ reaction centering over quarterly earnings, macroeconomic phenomenon and political swings.

“During the week, quarterly earnings declarations and lucrative price advantages lured some witty participants to the market especially, in banking sector. This fueled week’s

DSE adopts regulation on demutualisation scheme

n Tribune Report

Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) yesterday adopted special regulations to implement demutualisation of the country’s prime bourse.

It adopted the regulations like scheme of demutualisation, amendment, the modifications brought in the memorandum and articles of association, and the list of directors of the first board at its Extraordinary General Meeting in Dhaka.

The EGM also approved increase of the authorised share capital from existing Tk500,000 to Tk25bn.

Within the next seven days, the amendments brought in the memorandum and articles of association will be submitted to the Registrar of the Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC), seeking re-registration of the DSE. The demutualisation is a way of separating the bourse management from ownership and to bring transparency and accountability into the market.

It is going to transform the two bourses from their current non-profit, co-operative state into profit-oriented entities.

Adoption of the new memorandum of association means disallowing any shareholder of the bourse to enter into the DSE office without getting permission from the proper authorities. l

positivity in an accelerated tone and assisted investors’ increased participation,” it said.

But, at the fourth session a precautionary movement of profit booking by the investors dragged down the indices by 43 points and broke tri-session long streak of 190 points. As the week ended, the bourse emerged flat as investors were changing their sector-wise preference.

In line with investors’ psychology, all major sectors turned positive, with life insurance rising 7%, telecommunications 7% and textile 5%. Backed by recent earnings disclosures, investors mostly participated in textile and bank throughout the week.

Lanka Bangla Securities said with the stable money market situation and expected dialogue between two major political parties, investors turned their attention back to recent corporate earnings declarations.

Many believe that corporate earnings

have bottomed out as once the issue of national election is over, corporations will get boost in their earnings, it said.

So, it added, this sort of chaotic environment provides opportunity to buy good stocks at cheaper prices. On the front of monetary side, recent fall in interest rates in banking stocks has also attracted the investors.

Encouraging growth in exports and imports is giving positive signal in investors mind toward economic outlook, it said.

The gainers took modest lead over the losers as out of 293 issues traded during the week, 190 advanced, 97 declined and six remained unchanged on the DSE. Generation Next Fashion was the most traded stocks worth Tk991m changing hands, followed by Envoy Textile, Argon Denim, United Commercial Bank and Beximco Ltd. l

Sugar dealers deprived of supply n Asif Showkat Kallol The dealers alleged that they didn’t get adequate supply of sugar from the state-owned mills during the past two months despite having stock.

Supply became halted temporarily since October 30 as per the government’s earlier announcement.

According to them, a stock of 16,864 tonne of sugar was sold to a Chittagong-based trader in the name of open-market sale.

Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industry Corporation (BSFIC) is the authority to supply sugar to the dealers from the state-owned 17 sugar mills.

Industries Minister Dilip Barua however refused the allegation and claimed that the supply was available till the date of postponement on October 30.

He said: “If we find any irregularity with the sugar supply, we must take action.”

There are a number of 4,000 sugar dealers

in the country. BSFIC sources said a high official in the industries ministry was involved in the alleged irregularity.

Earlier, the BSFIC extended supply period till October 31 after the end of another period of May-June.

Bangladesh Sugar Dealers Association president Mostafizur Rahman Babul blamed Industries Minister Dilip Barua for “the sale of sugar to a trader” instead of supplying to the dealers. “Because of the minister, 4,000 dealers were deprived of supply,” he said.

According to Mostafizur Rahman, dealers got only 630 tonne of sugar during the last couple of days while 16,864 tonne “vanished from stock.”

He said: “Dilip Barua never listen to us.

We demand fixing sugar price at Tk55 per kg in 2011, but he set it at Tk60.”

Official sources said the state-run mills can supply around 120,000 tonnes sugar against an annual demand of nearly 1.3m tonnes. l

3

Governor calls for green credit policy n Tribune Report Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman stressed the need to prepare sector specific credit policy guideline as “the nature of different sectors is different from the environmental perspective.”

He also said holding positive mindset and attitude on environmental credit guideline is the biggest challenge for the bankers.

Dr Atiur Rahman was speaking at “International Sustainable Banking Conference 2013” in Dhaka yesterday.

Bangladesh Bank and International Finance Corporation jointly organised the daylong conference.

“Polluting industries like tannery differs from the investment in poultry,” said the governor explaining the nature of the lending sectors.

He added that quantifying environmental risk rating is another challenge.

On mindset, Governor said: “The mindset amongst bankers should not be that environmental guidelines are damaging for growth of the business and a hindrance – it’s in your own interest too for long run growth of your profits.”

“Capacity building on environmental issues is therefore required for the central bank and the commercials banks” to develop structured green banking practices and green reporting initiatives (GRI).

The green banking has been identified as one of the major drivers of sustainable economic growth in developing countries.

Governor said Bangladesh Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) mainstreaming guidance of 2008 highlighted environmental sustainability issues alongside those of social and financial inclusion.

This was followed by indicative policy guidelines of 2011 specifically on instilling green banking practices, both in internal processes and in environmental impact assessment of financing proposals, he pointed out.

“Bangladesh Bank as a central bank took utmost care to kick the process off with setting examples in its own practices.”

Dr Atiur Rahman said: “In green financing lenders routinely take up environmental impact assessment of investment proposals, factoring in environmental risks in their financing decisions.”

He added the green financiers deny financing for environmentally risky undertakings lacking in adequate mitigation measures.

“This environmental screening of borrowing proposals, green financing promotes adoption of new energy efficient.”

Governor said Bangladesh Bank advises the banks to finance solar energy, bio-gas plant, ETP and Hybrid Hoffman Kiln (HHK) in brick field under refinance programmes.

“We introduce Tk2bn refinance line in FY2010 against bank loans for investments in solar energy, ETPs and biogas plants,’ he added.

Kyle Kelhofer, IFC’s Country Manager for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal and Deputy Governor SK Sur Chowdhury, among others were present. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Career

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Perfect your elevator pitch You have bumped into your former supervisor waiting for an elevator at a restaurant. He has moved on to a coveted position at another organisation, and asks you: ‘What are you doing these days?’

You open your mouth but then pause to think. Where should you start? What would he find most impressive? The elevator has reached its destination, and he has to split to join his dinner date

n Ahsan Sajid

USP makes you, your organisation, or your idea unique. You should point out your USP after you’ve discussed what it is that you do.

Example: “I visit each university separately, and review each course individually, to find out exactly what is expected off my applications, unlike other developers. While this may take longer, it ensures that my clients are happy with the first version of the application I write for them.”

If you had been prepared and didn’t require so much time to organise your thoughts, he would have stuck around longer to hear what you had to say, maybe even long CAREER enough to schedule a meetASCENT ing with you at his new office.

You will never know exactly how big an opportunity you missed because you weren’t ready to make an elevator pitch.

An elevator pitch is a short summary used to quickly and simply define a person, position, product, service, organisation etc. The name reflects the idea that the pitch should

Ask a question: Nothing engages a listener like a question. Prepare a number of questions that you will use to make your pitch a two-way one. At the same time, make sure you are prepared to handle questions that may come your way.

Example: “What kind of remote applications does your organisation use?” “Are you satisfied with their performance?” “How are your employees responding to them?”

Practice: When you’ve prepared for each section of your elevator pitch, bring it all together and practice. Practice in front of a mirror and use a stopwatch to time yourself – you pitch should not run longer than 30 seconds or you risk losing the person’s interest.

While practicing, make necessary edits and leave out things that don’t need to be there. You’ve already covered what you’re go-

Practice in front of a mirror and use a stopwatch to time yourself – you pitch should not run longer than 30 seconds or you risk losing the person’s interest

ideally be possible to deliver in the time span of an elevator ride, approximately 30 seconds to a minute. The term comes from a scenario of an accidental meeting with a superior, or someone useful. If the pitch inside the elevator, in those few seconds is interesting and of value to the listener, the conversation will continue after the elevator ride and result in an exchange of business cards, or in particularly successful cases, a scheduled meeting.

Elevator pitch is brief and persuasive, and used to spark interest. The agenda behind it is to create interest in a project, idea, product, or yourself. The perfect elevator pitch is

Advertising jargon n Career Desk AIDA (abbreviation): Attention, Interest, Desire, Action – the objective of all advertisements.

BIZ VOCAB

Eye-catcher (noun): Something that especially attracts one’s attention.

Features (noun): Special characteristics of a product, usually leading to certain benefits.

USP (abbreviation): Unique Selling Proposition; what makes a product different from others.

Prime time (noun): Hours on radio and television with largest audience, especially the evening hours.

interesting, memorable and concise, while explaining what makes the organisation, product or idea unique.

It is a misconception to assume that elevator pitches are only for sales people to pitch their products and services. In reality, elevator pitches are more useful when it comes to, for example, introducing your organisation to potential clients or customers, or selling a new idea to your CEO, or to inform colleagues about your new project.

Creating a perfect elevator pitch that sounds natural and not rehearsed will be difficult and you will likely go through many versions before landing on one that is compelling. Use the following step-by-step method to perfect your pitch, but keep in mind to alter your pitch when necessary: Identify the goal: Think about the objective of your pitch. Is it to tell potential clients about your organisation? Is it to introduce a great new product idea? Or will a simple and engaging conversation about your work suffice?

Introduce yourself: Start the pitch by explaining what your organisation does, or what you do. Focus on problems that you solve and how it helps people. It is best to lead with a statistic that shows the impact of what you do. For example, a seminar you organised has lead to 200 villages receiving workshops on disaster preparedness.

Make sure what you’re pitching excites you first and foremost. If it doesn’t interest

QUICK TIPS! Tip 1: Keep take-away items with you to present to the person after delivering your pitch.

This could be a business card, brochure, flyer, product portfolio etc.

Tip 2: Don’t simply stick to the one pitch you’ve practiced for; be prepared to alter it as per your audience.

Tip 3: Be friendly and firm; do not be obnoxious and overly assertive when the person you’ve ‘accidentally’ run into is preoccupied with other things.

Tip 4: Elevator pitches need not be restricted to elevators; it could happen on the street, during a walk, at a party etc.

Tip 5: Focus on individuals, as opposed to groups. Elevator pitches do not work if you’re pitching to an entire group.

Tip 6: Do not go for the hard sell – the point of an elevator pitch is simply to get your foot through the door. you it won’t interest the person you’re pitching to. Your pitch should seem passionate, so that even if the audience does not remember much of what you said, they will remember your passion and enthusiasm.

A boring introduction: “I write applications for online courses of different universities.”

A memorable introduction: “I write applications university students use to remotely connect to their lectures.”

The latter is much more interesting, memorable and explains the value you provide and impact you have on your clients.

Point out your USP: The most important part of your elevator pitch is pointing out your unique selling proposition or your USP. Your

ing to say, but how you’re going to say it is just as important. You do not want to sound too fast, or like you’ve been practicing the pitch, or sound unnatural. You want your pitch to be a smooth conversation and not an aggressive sales pitch. Vary your pitch from time to time so it doesn’t start to sound too formulaic.

Example: “I write applications university students use to remotely connect to their lectures.

I visit each university separately and review each course individually, to find out exactly what is expected off my applications, unlike other developers. This takes longer, but it ensures my clients are satisfied with the first version of my app.

“What kind of remote application is your organisation using?” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Career

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2013

The Eisenhower Matrix for time-management n Career Desk US President Eisenhower once said: “What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important.” This quotation and Eisenhower’s method of organising his tasks gave rise to the concept of the Eisenhower Principle, or the Eisenhower Matrix, a matrix that helps you manage time effectively and not just efficiently.

The definitions of “important” and “urgent” for the purposes of this article have been taken from the career resources website www.mindtools.com. According to the website, “important” activities have an outcome that leads to the achievement of one’s goals, whether these are professional or personal. “Urgent” activities demand immediate attention, and are often associated with the achievement of someone else’s goals.

Best time management practices take into account the importance of being effective as well as efficient. Managing time effectively and getting everything done means spending time on things that are important, and not just urgent. Urgent activities are usually the ones we concentrate on; they demand attention because the consequences of not dealing with them are immediate.

Using the Eisenhower Matrix The Eisenhower Matrix is a fresh approach to priorities, using which helps you overcome the natural tendency to focus only on urgent, immediate activities so that you can clear enough time to focus on what’s important in the long run. Draw the matrix as shown in the figure. Follow the step by step method to

5

My First Job

cannot always be foreseen; the best approach is to leave some time in your schedule to handle unexpected issues and unplanned important activities or to reschedule other events.

If you have a lot of urgent and important activities, identify which of these could have been foreseen, and think about how you could schedule similar activities ahead of time, so that they don’t become urgent.

plot all your priorities in the matrix.  On a blank piece of paper list out all the activities and projects that you have to at work, no matter how unimportant.  On a scale of 1 to 5, assign importance to each of the activities. This is a measure of how important each activity is in meeting your goals and objectives, so don’t worry about urgency at this stage.  After assigning importance, evaluate the urgency of each task. Once you’ve done this, plot each task on matrix according to the values you’ve given it.  Study the matrix and schedule your priorities accordingly.

Strategies for each quadrant Urgent, Important: Urgent and important activities are ones that you could not foresee and others that you left to the last minute. Avoid last-minute activities by planning ahead and avoiding procrastination. Crises

Copywriter: I work at an agency as a writer, and I’ve always thought of my position as indispensable since I’m the only writer in the team. However, these days it seems the higher ups are happy enough with halfway decent writing which pretty much anybody at work can do. No one’s concerned with good writing ASK MENTOR which is making my presence seem unimportant and even unnecessary. Should I wait for my position to become completely irrelevant or talk with my boss about bettering the quality of the work we are doing? Or find another place where people put more emphasis on good writing?

Mentor: Well, I think first you need to fix your attitude; no one is indispensable! The moment anyone thinks they are too good for something they will be underperforming for sure. It may also be that you are bored with your work, hence giving it less attention. Often, such situations get noticed by the management. They can tell that you feel superior or that you have lost interest, and maybe that is why they are giving work to others instead of you. Either you become aggressive and grab on to whatever jobs are coming in, or you look for new opportunities elsewhere.

LifeOverClasses: I started working from a very early age, and now that I have only a year of university left, I have completely lost interest in my studies. I am already doing something that I love doing, and I see potential for growth in my future. How can I convince myself to suffer another year of dull classes that is not teaching me anything new? How important is it really to have a university degree, if you have a lot of job experience?

Mentor: I hear you! It’s the “too cool for school syndrome.” Frankly, I went through the same thing. I am sorry to say this, but you have to suffer through it, there’s no other way. Try to mix it up and take some interesting courses in your last year. I had taken some that involved me exploring outside of my comfort zone and of knowledge. Obviously, all of your courses will not be so interesting or put you out of your zone, but some should be good to get you going. All the best! l Email us at career@dhakatribune.com for your opinions, feedback and career-related queries.

Urgent, Not Important: Urgent but not important activities stop you achieving your goals, and prevent you from completing your work. Ask yourself whether these tasks can be rescheduled, or whether you can delegate them. A common source of such interruptions is from colleagues or your supervisor.

Sometimes it’s more appropriate to say “No” or to encourage them to solve the problem themselves.

Not Urgent, Important: These are the tasks that help you achieve your personal and professional goals, and complete important work. Make sure you have plenty of time to do these things properly, so that they do not become urgent.

Not Urgent, Not Important: These activities are just a distraction, and should be avoided if possible. Some can simply be ignored or cancelled.

The Eisenhower Matrix helps you identify the activities you should focus on. By prioritising using the Matrix, you can deal with urgent issues while working towards important goals. l

Follow this career expert on Twitter to stay on the edge of your career Laurie Ruettimann @lruettimann Laurie Ruettimann pushes the boundaries of what’s really possible in Human Resources. Her expertise as a HR leader in Fortune 500 organisations, such as Pfizer, Alberto-Culver, and Kemper Insurance, allows her to frame the HR world as it used to be known.

Now, as a woman in the thick of the social world, Laurie understands how the digital space has changed the way HR needs to think and act.

Laurie is SPHR-certified and an influential speaker, writer, and social media strategist. She is the creator of Punk Rock HR, which Forbes named as one of the top 100 websites for women. She is the founder of The Cynical Girl and The HR Blogger Network. She is also the co-founder of HRBloggers.com and HRMToday.com, the first social networks created for HR professionals.

She studied at Regent’s College in London and holds a B.A. in Literature from Webster University in St. Louis. l

Planning and Coordination General Manager Biplob Kumar Mahajan of Palmal Group talks to Dhaka Tribune about his first job and the importance of working smart.

Work smart, not just hard!

Tell us a little about your education background?

I initially did my honours from University of Calcutta; I did my MBA on textile and apparel marketing from Prime Asia University.

What was your first job after graduation?

My first job was as a management trainee at Lenny Fashions Ltd, which is an Indian company at Dhaka Export Processing Zone.

How did you get the job?

I read the vacancy notice in a newspaper and applied for it. I was interviewed thoroughly and finally selected for the job.

What was your biggest accomplishment in that position?

I was promoted to production executive within first year and got the responsibility of a separate production unit.

Looking back, what is the most valuable lesson you picked up from your first job?

My most valuable lesson was on how to work under huge pressure and perform well. Furthermore, I learned how to achieve targeted production within stipulated time.

Did your first job change your mind about what you wanted to do with the rest of your career?

I would say instead of changing my mind, every once in a while I tend to put my mind, heart and soul in to whatever work I take upon to learn, experience, implement as well as execute.

I worked in my first company for about 6 years where I learned all technical aspects of garment production, all the basics of garment industry management, and also learned how to handle a huge work force and help them perform. As time progressed, I got the confidence to run a company under my management.

Who inspired you the most in your first job?

The CEO of Lenny Fashions, Navneet Bhagat, who taught me the valuable lesson of proper time management. He taught me how to work smarter, not just harder. l

6

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2013

DSE Broad Index: 3967.73 ⇑ 4.43%, Turnover: 17462.66 M.Tk ⇑ 75.83%, PE: 12.42 Turnover: 19,119.05 MTk. ⇑ 76.87% October 31, 2013 MarketCap. 1,921.78 BTk. ⇑ 4.62% CSE All Share Index: 12245 ⇑ 4.13%, Turnover: 1657.94M Tk. ⇑ 88.63%, PE: 12.16 Combined Turnover Leader

Vol.

Generation Next Fashions-A

41118550

Envoy Textiles Ltd-N

CompanyCode | EPS | BV | Volume Traded (Share) DSE/CSE: ClosePrice ⇓/⇑ Chn % | Avg.Price | Hi / Lo

BANK ABBANK | 2.95 | 32.60 | Vol. 2212399 D: 25.10 ⇑ 8.19% | 25.14 | 27.10 / 21.00 C: 25.30 ⇑ 8.12% | 25.26 | 26.70 / 24.00 CITYBANK | 1.15 | 25.97 | Vol. 8711818 D: 18.60 ⇑ 14.81% | 18.81 | 20.30 / 15.50 C: 18.50 ⇑ 15.63% | 18.80 | 20.00 / 16.20 IFIC | 1.10 | 18.34 | Vol. 9415525 D: 26.50 ⇑ 25.00% | 26.77 | 27.90 / 21.00 C: 26.40 ⇑ 22.79% | 26.67 | 27.90 / 23.00 ISLAMIBANK | 3.78 | 27.16 | Vol. 2427907 D: 36.90 ⇑ 2.79% | 36.88 | 37.50 / 32.80 C: 36.60 ⇑ 2.81% | 36.67 | 37.10 / 35.80 NBL | 1.05 | 15.76 | Vol. 40179707 D: 11.20 ⇑ 8.74% | 11.84 | 14.00 / 10.00 C: 11.50 ⇑ 10.58% | 12.01 | 13.50 / 10.40 PUBALIBANK | 1.92 | 21.18 | Vol. 780373 D: 31.10 ⇑ 0.32% | 31.35 | 33.00 / 28.00 C: 30.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 31.03 | 32.30 / 28.20 RUPALIBANK | 6.70 | 64.27 | Vol. 166000 D: 64.40 ⇑ 9.34% | 64.47 | 68.00 / 58.90 C: 60.30 ⇑ 0.50% | 62.10 | 64.90 / 60.00 UCBL | 1.90 | 21.72 | Vol. 35806827 D: 21.90 ⇑ 15.26% | 21.82 | 23.60 / 17.30 C: 21.90 ⇑ 15.87% | 21.77 | 23.00 / 19.20 UTTARABANK | 3.42 | 26.97 | Vol. 2377701 D: 28.00 ⇑ 9.38% | 28.30 | 29.00 / 23.40 C: 27.90 ⇑ 7.72% | 28.11 | 28.90 / 25.00 ICBIBANK | -1.60 | -13.03 | Vol. 821500 D: 5.90 ⇑ 5.36% | 5.90 | 6.10 / 5.60 EBL | 3.91 | 28.22 | Vol. 1051990 D: 26.40 ⇓ 0.38% | 26.82 | 29.50 / 24.00 C: 26.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 26.32 | 28.00 / 23.40 ALARABANK | 2.03 | 14.91 | Vol. 4918525 D: 15.40 ⇑ 5.48% | 15.53 | 17.10 / 13.50 C: 15.60 ⇑ 8.33% | 15.57 | 17.00 / 13.90 PRIMEBANK | 2.89 | 22.40 | Vol. 2782154 D: 23.10 ⇑ 14.36% | 23.08 | 24.10 / 19.00 C: 23.00 ⇑ 15.00% | 22.83 | 23.60 / 21.30 SOUTHEASTB | 1.89 | 22.66 | Vol. 9391182 D: 16.90 ⇑ 6.29% | 16.83 | 17.60 / 15.00 C: 16.80 ⇑ 5.00% | 16.74 | 17.50 / 15.00 DHAKABANK | 1.46 | 18.08 | Vol. 1207691 D: 18.80 ⇑ 2.73% | 18.83 | 22.00 / 17.00 C: 18.70 ⇑ 3.89% | 18.69 | 20.80 / 18.00 NCCBANK | 1.90 | 15.88 | Vol. 5058896 D: 12.20 ⇑ 9.91% | 12.29 | 13.50 / 10.00 C: 12.20 ⇑ 9.91% | 12.29 | 13.20 / 11.00 SIBL | 2.05 | 14.47 | Vol. 5087124 D: 11.70 ⇑ 7.34% | 11.79 | 13.00 / 10.00 C: 11.80 ⇑ 7.27% | 11.89 | 12.60 / 11.20 DUTCHBANGL | 11.57 | 54.27 | Vol. 69820 D: 93.90 ⇑ 3.99% | 93.89 | 96.00 / 87.00 C: 92.00 ⇓ 0.22% | 92.80 | 93.90 / 92.00 MTBL | 1.17 | 17.27 | Vol. 507320 D: 15.70 ⇑ 5.37% | 15.92 | 17.10 / 14.00 C: 15.30 ⇑ 2.00% | 15.32 | 16.10 / 15.30 STANDBANKL | 2.33 | 14.41 | Vol. 5488739 D: 12.90 ⇓ 3.01% | 13.10 | 14.80 / 12.00 C: 13.10 ⇓ 0.76% | 13.20 | 14.80 / 12.70 ONEBANKLTD | 2.35 | 15.34 | Vol. 16864239 D: 14.20 ⇓ 0.70% | 14.42 | 17.20 / 12.90 C: 14.50 ⇑ 1.40% | 14.51 | 16.80 / 13.40 BANKASIA | 1.35 | 20.80 | Vol. 1392827 D: 18.60 ⇑ 2.20% | 18.79 | 20.50 / 16.40 C: 18.90 ⇑ 1.61% | 18.94 | 20.70 / 18.70 MERCANBANK | 2.07 | 16.59 | Vol. 8374306 D: 13.50 ⇑ 14.41% | 13.51 | 14.10 / 10.80 C: 13.40 ⇑ 14.53% | 13.42 | 13.80 / 12.00 EXIMBANK | 1.80 | 14.31 | Vol. 10449638 D: 11.40 ⇑ 4.59% | 11.40 | 13.30 / 10.00 C: 11.60 ⇑ 5.45% | 11.54 | 13.00 / 11.00 JAMUNABANK | 2.47 | 18.56 | Vol. 1220344 D: 15.20 ⇑ 16.92% | 15.33 | 16.50 / 12.00 C: 15.30 ⇑ 15.91% | 15.14 | 15.70 / 13.50 BRACBANK | 1.51 | 24.87 | Vol. 1452067 D: 29.90 ⇑ 4.18% | 29.88 | 31.50 / 26.90 C: 29.50 ⇑ 2.79% | 29.74 | 31.00 / 26.00 SHAHJABANK | 2.61 | 14.47 | Vol. 3427155 D: 15.50 ⇑ 9.15% | 15.65 | 16.80 / 12.80 C: 15.60 ⇑ 9.86% | 15.79 | 16.60 / 14.20

TO M. Tk.

% of TTL

Avg. P

1,060.62

5.55

25.79

14325210

879.04

Argon Denims Limited-A

11311920

772.33

UCBL - A

35806827

BEXIMCO Ltd. -A

18520135

761.54 568.35

4.60

61.36

4.04

68.28

3.98

21.27

2.97

PREMIERBAN | 1.18 | 13.95 | Vol. 12928375 D: 11.50 ⇑ 27.78% | 11.41 | 12.20 / 8.20 C: 11.50 ⇑ 26.37% | 11.42 | 11.50 / 9.20 TRUSTBANK | 0.50 | 18.00 | Vol. 1545442 D: 17.50 ⇓ 3.31% | 17.54 | 20.00 / 16.00 C: 17.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 17.61 | 19.40 / 17.00 FIRSTSBANK | 1.85 | 13.89 | Vol. 3500007 D: 12.40 ⇑ 9.73% | 12.50 | 13.30 / 10.30 C: 12.40 ⇑ 10.71% | 12.44 | 13.10 / 11.60 NON BANKING F I IDLC | 4.43 | 29.18 | Vol. 721815 D: 56.60 ⇑ 5.40% | 57.01 | 58.90 / 52.00 C: 57.00 ⇑ 5.95% | 57.01 | 59.00 / 55.80 ULC | 1.80 | 14.90 | Vol. 518370 D: 26.90 ⇑ 5.49% | 26.88 | 28.00 / 24.80 UTTARAFIN | 7.16 | 41.54 | Vol. 273126 D: 73.80 ⇑ 4.09% | 73.94 | 75.50 / 70.00 C: 72.60 ⇑ 1.97% | 72.62 | 76.00 / 71.40 MIDASFIN | 0.16 | 10.21 | Vol. 5537 D: 30.10 ⇓ 5.64% | 30.10 | 32.50 / 29.00 FLEASEINT | 2.34 | 13.93 | Vol. 2459488 D: 25.50 ⇑ 12.33% | 25.32 | 26.80 / 21.00 C: 24.80 ⇑ 8.77% | 24.80 | 27.30 / 23.90 PLFSL | 1.37 | 17.48 | Vol. 2354083 D: 21.50 ⇑ 6.44% | 21.50 | 22.80 / 18.90 C: 21.50 ⇑ 5.91% | 21.63 | 22.70 / 19.60 PRIMEFIN | 0.87 | 17.88 | Vol. 1576770 D: 23.10 ⇑ 11.59% | 23.13 | 24.00 / 18.90 C: 23.00 ⇑ 9.52% | 23.00 | 23.90 / 21.30 PREMIERLEA | 0.10 | 11.37 | Vol. 1337621 D: 10.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 10.03 | 10.80 / 9.00 C: 10.00 ⇓ 1.96% | 10.00 | 10.70 / 9.00 ISLAMICFIN | 1.03 | 15.48 | Vol. 1492829 D: 15.50 ⇑ 4.03% | 15.63 | 16.30 / 13.50 C: 15.50 ⇑ 4.03% | 15.43 | 16.00 / 15.00 LANKABAFIN | 1.61 | 31.07 | Vol. 1864559 D: 54.30 ⇑ 8.17% | 54.22 | 56.40 / 47.00 C: 54.70 ⇑ 8.32% | 54.56 | 56.50 / 50.10 BIFC | 0.15 | 18.58 | Vol. 532663 D: 16.30 ⇑ 12.41% | 16.03 | 16.30 / 13.50 C: 16.20 ⇑ 10.96% | 16.13 | 16.30 / 13.40 IPDC | 1.23 | 19.43 | Vol. 561000 D: 17.10 ⇓ 4.47% | 17.13 | 18.50 / 16.90 C: 17.00 ⇓ 4.49% | 17.03 | 18.00 / 17.00 UNIONCAP | 0.54 | 17.85 | Vol. 79487 D: 27.10 ⇓ 3.21% | 27.18 | 28.80 / 25.00 C: 27.00 ⇓ 1.82% | 27.00 | 27.70 / 26.40 BDFINANCE | 0.57 | 14.77 | Vol. 1571165 D: 17.90 ⇓ 9.60% | 17.90 | 20.60 / 16.30 C: 17.90 ⇓ 9.14% | 17.90 | 20.50 / 17.00 ILFSL | 0.35 | 12.19 | Vol. 3069770 D: 14.60 ⇑ 11.45% | 14.72 | 14.90 / 11.90 C: 14.80 ⇑ 13.85% | 14.66 | 14.90 / 13.20 PHOENIXFIN | 2.46 | 19.39 | Vol. 920126 D: 28.00 ⇓ 3.45% | 28.32 | 30.90 / 26.50 C: 27.90 ⇓ 3.79% | 27.97 | 30.50 / 27.80 FASFIN | 0.19 | 13.56 | Vol. 1971068 D: 13.50 ⇑ 2.27% | 13.59 | 14.70 / 12.00 C: 13.60 ⇑ 3.03% | 13.61 | 14.50 / 13.20 DBH | 4.47 | 21.27 | Vol. 205017 D: 53.00 ⇑ 1.15% | 53.07 | 54.60 / 50.00 C: 51.10 ⇓ 0.20% | 51.80 | 52.90 / 51.00 NHFIL | 0.57 | 12.70 | Vol. 1094591 D: 29.60 ⇑ 7.64% | 29.50 | 31.40 / 26.00 C: 29.60 ⇑ 7.25% | 29.50 | 30.00 / 28.00 BAYLEASING | 0.72 | 25.55 | Vol. 1256936 D: 27.40 ⇓ 1.08% | 27.36 | 30.20 / 25.00 C: 27.20 ⇓ 2.16% | 27.15 | 31.40 / 25.10 ICB | 89.23 | 607.74 | Vol. 41361 D: 1486 ⇑ 3.25% | 1459 | 1490 / 1376 C: 1487 ⇑ 1.82% | 1474 | 1487 / 1376 GSPFINANCE | 1.63 | 22.23 | Vol. 368292 D: 24.10 ⇑ 2.55% | 24.14 | 25.00 / 21.60 C: 24.00 ⇑ 1.27% | 23.89 | 24.90 / 22.00 FAREASTFIN | 0.68 | 13.64 | Vol. 6787500 D: 13.60 ⇓ 7.48% | 13.60 | 16.10 / 13.30 C: 13.80 ⇓ 6.76% | 13.71 | 16.10 / 13.30 INVESTMENT 1STICB | 75.63 | 942.30 | Vol. 37300 D: 900.0 ⇓ 0.96% | 900.00 | 950.0 / 900.0 C: 930.0 ⇑ 0.00% | 955.00 | 930.0 / 930.0

30.69

DSE Gainer

DSE Loser

C%

A%

CP

-94.88

-94.90

225.80

Jute Spinners-A

-29.82

-29.42

71.30

Savar Refractories-Z

-24.09

-23.59

50.10

Desh Garments-B Meghna PET Ind.-Z

-19.52

-21.50

47.40

-18.31

-18.59

5.80

C%

A%

CP

Premier Bank-A

27.78

25.80

11.50

Delta Life Insu.-Z

IFIC Bank-A

25.00

25.56

26.50

S Purbanchol Power-N

19.62

20.22

56.10

Rahim Textile-A

19.01

18.65

320.50

Metro Spinning-A

18.99

18.30

18.80

2NDICB | 44.10 | 253.11 | Vol. 4200 D: 215.0 ⇓ 6.11% | 215.00 | 230.0 / 210.0 3RDICB | 26.16 | 235.16 | Vol. 5500 D: 175.3 ⇓ 2.07% | 175.50 | 180.0 / 172.2 4THICB | 29.24 | 229.24 | Vol. 3500 D: 170.0 ⇑ 0.00% | 170.00 | 170.0 / 170.0 6THICB | 10.99 | 60.14 | Vol. 36000 D: 45.50 ⇑ 2.94% | 45.60 | 46.70 / 43.70 C: 45.70 ⇑ 4.10% | 45.65 | 45.80 / 45.50 7THICB | 13.53 | 98.60 | Vol. 8000 D: 72.90 ⇑ 1.39% | 80.00 | 80.00 / 72.00 8THICB | 12.47 | 70.07 | Vol. 25530 D: 50.20 ⇑ 4.58% | 50.20 | 50.20 / 47.10 AIMS1STMF | 3.02 | 15.70 | Vol. 1041075 D: 37.50 ⇑ 6.84% | 37.35 | 38.00 / 35.00 C: 37.30 ⇑ 6.57% | 37.18 | 37.60 / 35.80 ICBISLAMIC | 2.21 | 26.81 | Vol. 108000 D: 16.30 ⇑ 0.62% | 16.30 | 16.80 / 16.00 EBL1STMF | 0.55 | 12.62 | Vol. 1378254 D: 6.60 ⇑ 3.13% | 6.66 | 7.10 / 6.00 C: 6.80 ⇑ 4.62% | 6.73 | 7.00 / 6.20 ICBAMCL2ND | 0.60 | 12.12 | Vol. 160000 D: 5.60 ⇓ 1.75% | 5.70 | 5.80 / 5.60 C: 5.80 ⇑ 5.45% | 5.80 | 5.80 / 5.80 ICBEPMF1S1 | 0.52 | 11.32 | Vol. 543000 D: 6.10 ⇑ 3.39% | 6.17 | 6.30 / 5.90 C: 6.10 ⇑ 5.17% | 6.08 | 6.10 / 5.70 TRUSTB1MF | 0.75 | 11.65 | Vol. 2651543 D: 7.40 ⇑ 5.71% | 7.40 | 7.80 / 6.50 C: 7.50 ⇑ 7.14% | 7.34 | 7.50 / 7.00 PRIME1ICBA | 0.42 | 11.18 | Vol. 288500 D: 5.10 ⇑ 2.00% | 5.10 | 5.30 / 5.00 C: 5.20 ⇑ 1.96% | 5.20 | 5.20 / 5.10 DBH1STMF | -1.12 | 10.15 | Vol. 1182000 D: 5.50 ⇑ 5.77% | 5.48 | 5.60 / 5.20 C: 5.50 ⇑ 5.77% | 5.44 | 5.60 / 5.20 IFIC1STMF | 0.83 | 11.88 | Vol. 2181547 D: 6.40 ⇑ 4.92% | 6.47 | 6.70 / 5.70 C: 6.30 ⇑ 1.61% | 6.24 | 6.60 / 6.00 PF1STMF | 0.51 | 11.11 | Vol. 1017000 D: 5.30 ⇑ 3.92% | 5.30 | 5.50 / 5.10 C: 5.30 ⇑ 1.92% | 5.23 | 5.30 / 5.10 ICB3RDNRB | 0.00 | 10.60 | Vol. 684000 D: 5.00 ⇑ 2.04% | 5.01 | 5.10 / 4.90 C: 4.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 4.96 | 5.10 / 4.90 1JANATAMF | 0.78 | 10.68 | Vol. 913500 D: 5.70 ⇑ 3.64% | 5.73 | 5.80 / 5.50 C: 5.90 ⇑ 5.36% | 5.83 | 5.90 / 5.50 GREENDELMF | -0.82 | 9.72 | Vol. 1083000 D: 5.20 ⇑ 4.00% | 5.19 | 5.30 / 4.90 C: 5.20 ⇑ 4.00% | 5.18 | 5.20 / 4.90 POPULAR1MF | 0.77 | 11.38 | Vol. 2425079 D: 5.70 ⇑ 5.56% | 5.78 | 6.00 / 4.90 C: 5.80 ⇑ 5.45% | 5.80 | 5.80 / 5.30 IFILISLMF1 | 0.00 | 10.45 | Vol. 1784000 D: 5.20 ⇑ 1.96% | 5.24 | 5.30 / 5.00 C: 5.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.16 | 5.30 / 5.00 PHPMF1 | 0.63 | 10.92 | Vol. 3464000 D: 5.20 ⇑ 4.00% | 5.26 | 5.40 / 5.10 C: 5.30 ⇑ 6.00% | 5.30 | 5.40 / 5.10 AIBL1STIMF | -0.07 | 9.25 | Vol. 148500 D: 6.40 ⇑ 3.23% | 6.40 | 6.90 / 6.40 C: 6.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.46 | 6.50 / 6.00 MBL1STMF | -0.16 | 9.08 | Vol. 377000 D: 6.20 ⇑ 5.08% | 6.27 | 6.40 / 5.90 C: 6.40 ⇑ 3.23% | 6.43 | 6.50 / 6.10 SEBL1STMF | 0.94 | 11.85 | Vol. 1900650 D: 8.00 ⇑ 6.67% | 8.04 | 8.10 / 7.50 C: 7.90 ⇑ 2.60% | 7.90 | 8.10 / 7.20 EBLNRBMF | 1.07 | 10.88 | Vol. 21009 D: 7.50 ⇓ 1.32% | 7.50 | 7.50 / 7.20 RELIANCE1 | 0.95 | 10.33 | Vol. 3657950 D: 8.40 ⇑ 9.09% | 8.36 | 8.90 / 7.50 C: 8.30 ⇑ 9.21% | 8.29 | 8.30 / 7.70 LRGLOBMF1 | 0.50 | 10.82 | Vol. 623500 D: 7.60 ⇑ 1.33% | 7.64 | 7.90 / 7.20 C: 7.40 ⇓ 6.33% | 7.40 | 7.90 / 7.40 ABB1STMF | 0.92 | 10.63 | Vol. 436500 D: 6.70 ⇑ 1.52% | 6.75 | 6.90 / 6.60 NLI1STMF | 1.17 | 12.22 | Vol. 4211900 D: 9.10 ⇑ 8.33% | 9.20 | 9.50 / 8.00 C: 9.30 ⇑ 9.41% | 9.12 | 9.30 / 8.40 NCCBLMF1 | 1.16 | 10.48 | Vol. 95500 D: 8.20 ⇓ 4.65% | 8.25 | 8.60 / 8.10

ICBSONALI1 | 0.00 | 10.39 | Vol. 1267000 D: 6.60 ⇑ 6.45% | 6.68 | 6.90 / 6.30 C: 6.60 ⇑ 4.76% | 6.64 | 6.80 / 6.40 EXIM1STMF | 0.00 | 10.91 | Vol. 15000 D: 7.30 ⇑ 4.29% | 7.33 | 7.70 / 7.30 C: 6.90 ⇓ 1.43% | 6.90 | 6.90 / 6.90 ENGINEERING AFTABAUTO | 4.29 | 52.65 | Vol. 1047876 D: 97.50 ⇑ 1.04% | 97.64 | 102.0 / 88.00 C: 97.70 ⇑ 0.93% | 97.82 | 99.90 / 95.20 AZIZPIPES | 0.39 | -42.04 | Vol. 72550 D: 17.40 ⇓ 2.25% | 17.30 | 18.30 / 16.90 C: 17.00 ⇓ 8.11% | 17.00 | 19.20 / 16.50 OLYMPIC | 7.85 | 22.10 | Vol. 1132302 D: 205.7 ⇑ 8.21% | 205.40 | 211.9 / 181.0 C: 206.5 ⇑ 10.31% | 207.82 | 217.0 / 182.0 BDLAMPS | -5.31 | 37.07 | Vol. 61764 D: 123.1 ⇓ 5.67% | 123.84 | 135.4 / 122.5 C: 124.0 ⇓ 5.49% | 124.00 | 131.0 / 122.0 ECABLES | 2.04 | 18.87 | Vol. 54600 D: 80.00 ⇑ 12.04% | 80.10 | 80.50 / 65.70 C: 73.60 ⇑ 0.27% | 74.15 | 78.90 / 73.60 MONNOSTAF | 5.31 | 44.78 | Vol. 5500 D: 271.8 ⇓ 7.11% | 272.17 | 302.0 / 251.0 SINGERBD | 9.99 | 45.74 | Vol. 199086 D: 187.0 ⇑ 0.65% | 187.56 | 191.3 / 175.0 C: 189.0 ⇑ 2.00% | 187.76 | 194.0 / 185.0 ATLASBANG | 11.98 | 207.70 | Vol. 35232 D: 158.9 ⇑ 1.27% | 158.64 | 163.7 / 141.8 BDAUTOCA | 0.25 | 6.23 | Vol. 202006 D: 30.60 ⇓ 15.24% | 30.88 | 39.60 / 30.10 QSMDRYCELL | 1.06 | 52.31 | Vol. 850083 D: 32.00 ⇑ 13.07% | 32.25 | 32.80 / 27.00 C: 32.00 ⇑ 11.89% | 32.08 | 32.60 / 29.10 RENWICKJA | 5.77 | -31.13 | Vol. 38750 D: 135.9 ⇑ 8.46% | 140.73 | 145.0 / 123.0 NTLTUBES | -2.52 | 312.10 | Vol. 179800 D: 64.00 ⇓ 1.39% | 64.26 | 66.80 / 62.60 BDTHAI | 0.43 | 39.35 | Vol. 1342393 D: 24.40 ⇓ 7.22% | 24.46 | 27.70 / 23.00 C: 24.20 ⇓ 7.28% | 24.44 | 27.80 / 24.10 ANWARGALV | 0.52 | 8.10 | Vol. 463500 D: 22.50 ⇓ 6.25% | 22.65 | 24.80 / 20.90 C: 22.30 ⇓ 6.30% | 22.67 | 24.50 / 21.00 KAY&QUE | -3.89 | 6.03 | Vol. 24500 D: 14.60 ⇓ 2.67% | 14.67 | 15.00 / 14.40 C: 15.20 ⇓ 1.30% | 15.30 | 15.60 / 15.20 RANFOUNDRY | 2.84 | 18.62 | Vol. 169000 D: 80.90 ⇓ 6.37% | 80.88 | 90.00 / 78.70 C: 80.00 ⇓ 11.41% | 80.00 | 88.60 / 80.00 SALAMCRST | 3.31 | 20.00 | Vol. 1138810 D: 39.00 ⇑ 6.85% | 39.37 | 40.60 / 35.00 C: 39.80 ⇑ 6.70% | 39.87 | 41.90 / 36.70 GOLDENSON | 3.70 | 28.70 | Vol. 7646711 D: 44.00 ⇑ 7.84% | 44.25 | 47.20 / 37.00 C: 43.90 ⇑ 8.13% | 44.39 | 48.10 / 42.30 BSRMSTEEL | 3.06 | 19.53 | Vol. 1073869 D: 65.70 ⇑ 6.66% | 65.98 | 68.00 / 56.00 C: 65.80 ⇑ 6.47% | 65.53 | 67.50 / 61.50 NAVANACNG | 4.09 | 27.04 | Vol. 427162 D: 62.50 ⇑ 4.69% | 62.44 | 65.00 / 55.00 C: 62.10 ⇑ 4.02% | 61.82 | 63.00 / 60.00 DESHBANDHU | 0.26 | 10.67 | Vol. 1586638 D: 16.00 ⇓ 1.23% | 16.00 | 17.00 / 15.00 C: 16.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 15.91 | 16.90 / 15.50 GPHISPAT | 2.11 | 15.27 | Vol. 257700 D: 40.60 ⇑ 2.53% | 40.61 | 41.90 / 38.00 C: 40.40 ⇑ 3.06% | 40.36 | 41.40 / 39.60 BENGALWTL | 4.16 | 26.24 | Vol. 2815800 D: 46.50 ⇑ 6.16% | 46.66 | 50.00 / 43.20 C: 45.90 ⇑ 6.00% | 46.07 | 49.60 / 42.80 BDBUILDING | 1.53 | 14.60 | Vol. 5427500 D: 40.60 ⇑ 6.01% | 40.90 | 41.90 / 35.90 C: 40.30 ⇑ 5.50% | 40.63 | 41.70 / 35.80 NPOLYMAR | 2.73 | 37.82 | Vol. 402130 D: 49.00 ⇑ 2.51% | 48.56 | 52.00 / 44.00 C: 47.00 ⇓ 0.84% | 47.23 | 51.00 / 45.40 FOOD & ALLIED APEXFOODS | 2.54 | 90.81 | Vol. 102850 D: 88.40 ⇓ 2.86% | 89.31 | 93.00 / 86.00 C: 85.00 ⇓ 5.56% | 83.50 | 98.00 / 83.20

BANGAS | 7.20 | 50.27 | Vol. 129047 D: 367.7 ⇓ 3.26% | 365.63 | 398.0 / 350.0 C: 367.8 ⇓ 2.90% | 367.83 | 398.0 / 357.5 BATBC | 65.69 | 117.22 | Vol. 281100 D: 1573 ⇑ 4.62% | 1774 | 1800 / 1482 C: 1572 ⇑ 6.20% | 1572 | 1610 / 1495 GEMINISEA | 10.88 | 9.69 | Vol. 1700 D: 172.8 ⇓ 1.71% | 173.33 | 189.0 / 169.6 NTC | 29.88 | 110.05 | Vol. 2050 D: 782.0 ⇓ 1.75% | 782.00 | 810.0 / 750.0 C: 808.3 ⇓ 0.82% | 808.33 | 815.0 / 795.0 ZEALBANGLA | -28.94 | -221.34 | Vol. 1500 D: 8.50 ⇑ 1.19% | 8.57 | 8.70 / 8.00 AMCL(PRAN) | 6.85 | 57.14 | Vol. 329120 D: 184.5 ⇓ 13.05% | 183.49 | 227.0 / 172.0 C: 181.2 ⇓ 16.80% | 178.59 | 224.0 / 175.0 SHYAMPSUG | -45.77 | -396.49 | Vol. 2600 D: 7.20 ⇑ 1.41% | 7.00 | 7.20 / 6.60 FUWANGFOOD | 1.03 | 13.51 | Vol. 1114976 D: 21.90 ⇓ 0.45% | 22.01 | 24.00 / 19.50 C: 22.00 ⇑ 0.46% | 21.97 | 23.30 / 21.70 MEGHNAPET | -0.50 | -1.52 | Vol. 123000 D: 5.80 ⇓ 18.31% | 5.78 | 7.80 / 5.50 MEGCONMILK | -7.48 | -23.70 | Vol. 97000 D: 7.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.33 | 7.40 / 6.80 BEACHHATCH | 1.01 | 12.48 | Vol. 2362779 D: 20.60 ⇓ 1.44% | 20.81 | 22.10 / 18.80 C: 20.60 ⇓ 1.44% | 20.74 | 22.00 / 20.00 FINEFOODS | 0.05 | 10.63 | Vol. 1370315 D: 16.20 ⇓ 9.50% | 16.24 | 18.80 / 15.00 C: 16.40 ⇓ 7.87% | 16.28 | 18.00 / 15.40 RDFOOD | 0.91 | 16.84 | Vol. 3147032 D: 21.40 ⇑ 3.38% | 21.34 | 21.80 / 18.80 C: 21.40 ⇑ 2.39% | 21.39 | 21.70 / 20.50 GHAIL | 2.43 | 25.58 | Vol. 3164690 D: 36.80 ⇓ 13.00% | 36.90 | 43.80 / 33.70 C: 37.00 ⇓ 12.53% | 36.79 | 44.50 / 34.10 FUEL & POWER LINDEBD | 31.71 | 144.00 | Vol. 54650 D: 625.4 ⇑ 3.90% | 628.62 | 640.0 / 606.0 PADMAOIL | 16.38 | 43.67 | Vol. 517016 D: 280.5 ⇓ 3.04% | 277.35 | 296.9 / 265.0 C: 280.5 ⇓ 2.54% | 277.50 | 295.6 / 249.0 EASTRNLUB | 6.32 | 68.68 | Vol. 2000 D: 319.5 ⇑ 0.85% | 320.00 | 338.2 / 300.1 BDWELDING | 0.33 | 16.82 | Vol. 1792744 D: 19.70 ⇓ 2.48% | 19.82 | 22.00 / 18.50 C: 19.50 ⇓ 2.50% | 19.61 | 21.20 / 19.20 SUMITPOWER | 3.17 | 19.26 | Vol. 2158074 D: 32.60 ⇑ 8.31% | 32.68 | 33.90 / 27.10 C: 32.60 ⇑ 8.67% | 32.64 | 33.60 / 30.10 DESCO | 2.69 | 35.96 | Vol. 530898 D: 70.30 ⇑ 2.03% | 70.70 | 72.90 / 65.00 C: 70.50 ⇑ 2.17% | 70.50 | 74.90 / 69.20 POWERGRID | 2.56 | 48.08 | Vol. 181919 D: 52.30 ⇑ 3.16% | 52.36 | 53.80 / 49.00 C: 51.30 ⇓ 1.35% | 51.21 | 53.00 / 51.00 JAMUNAOIL | 22.78 | 50.24 | Vol. 558888 D: 220.5 ⇓ 1.12% | 219.67 | 230.0 / 199.0 C: 221.9 ⇓ 0.14% | 221.13 | 228.6 / 215.0 MPETROLEUM | 16.98 | 40.41 | Vol. 554378 D: 252.3 ⇑ 0.12% | 251.14 | 258.6 / 227.0 C: 253.2 ⇑ 0.48% | 251.63 | 254.9 / 245.1 TITASGAS | 9.20 | 46.26 | Vol. 2134378 D: 78.60 ⇑ 2.21% | 77.75 | 79.80 / 70.00 C: 78.50 ⇑ 1.95% | 78.23 | 79.50 / 76.50 KPCL | 4.73 | 15.86 | Vol. 931873 D: 47.00 ⇑ 4.68% | 47.13 | 48.60 / 40.50 C: 46.50 ⇑ 5.20% | 46.75 | 48.10 / 44.00 BEDL | 1.48 | 19.43 | Vol. 4970331 D: 27.60 ⇑ 11.74% | 27.53 | 29.20 / 22.40 C: 27.60 ⇑ 10.84% | 27.46 | 29.00 / 24.90 MJLBD | 2.73 | 30.24 | Vol. 149626 D: 69.80 ⇑ 1.31% | 69.64 | 72.00 / 63.00 C: 69.20 ⇑ 1.17% | 69.40 | 74.10 / 63.00 GBBPOWER | 1.86 | 22.63 | Vol. 3585523 D: 25.80 ⇑ 5.74% | 26.08 | 27.40 / 22.00 C: 25.80 ⇑ 6.17% | 26.08 | 27.80 / 24.60 SPPCL | 3.81 | 23.34 | Vol. 5392365 D: 56.10 ⇑ 19.62% | 56.61 | 58.80 / 43.20 C: 56.10 ⇑ 19.62% | 56.30 | 58.90 / 47.00

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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7

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2013

OCT 27-31, 2013 Sectotal Index: BANK: 34,617.44 ⇑ 0.97% NBFI: 19,216.53 ⇑ 1.74% INVS: 4,639.55 ⇑ 1.98% ENGG: 5,675.37 ⇑ 3.19% FOOD: 9,303.83 ⇓ 3.35% F&P: 9,812.30 ⇑ 0.84% TEXT: 3,180.49 ⇑ 0.97% PHAR: 16,912.53 ⇑ 1.18% PAPR: 921.95 ⇓ 7.03% SERV: 2,809.18 ⇑ 1.59% LEAT: 4,848.27 ⇑ 0.30% CERA: 481.23 ⇓ 0.50% CMNT: 4,222.24 ⇑ 0.58% INFO: 6,739.72 ⇓ 0.69% GINS: 8,923.70 ⇓ 1.30% LINS: 104,824.07 ⇑ 3.53% TELC: 1,283.23 ⇓ 1.44% MISC: 5,921.77 ⇑ 4.85% JUTE JUTESPINN | 2.06 | 17.42 | Vol. 65750 D: 71.30 ⇓ 29.82% | 71.89 | 110.0 / 62.20 NORTHERN | -13.80 | -6.19 | Vol. 2400 D: 23.60 ⇓ 17.77% | 23.75 | 26.30 / 23.50 SONALIANSH | 5.54 | 218.80 | Vol. 48800 D: 124.5 ⇓ 4.23% | 124.34 | 134.5 / 123.2 TEXTILE AL-HAJTEX | 2.22 | 16.53 | Vol. 344331 D: 86.60 ⇑ 2.85% | 85.94 | 91.00 / 78.00 STYLECRAFT | 20.00 | 287.30 | Vol. 500 D: 1234 ⇑ 3.70% | 1234 | 1250 / 1234 RAHIMTEXT | 5.81 | 70.85 | Vol. 15017 D: 320.5 ⇑ 19.01% | 321.75 | 330.0 / 260.2 SAIHAMTEX | 2.75 | 29.50 | Vol. 3388200 D: 28.50 ⇓ 1.38% | 28.69 | 30.90 / 27.60 C: 28.60 ⇓ 1.38% | 28.70 | 30.90 / 27.80 MODERNDYE | 0.91 | 10.37 | Vol. 11150 D: 74.50 ⇓ 7.57% | 73.94 | 88.00 / 70.00 DSHGARME | 0.88 | 12.12 | Vol. 185000 D: 47.40 ⇓ 19.52% | 46.80 | 62.10 / 46.00 DULAMIACOT | -1.90 | -29.70 | Vol. 67600 D: 7.60 ⇓ 8.43% | 7.63 | 8.40 / 7.30 TALLUSPIN | 2.01 | 18.59 | Vol. 3564962 D: 37.10 ⇓ 0.54% | 36.68 | 39.00 / 33.00 C: 36.90 ⇓ 1.07% | 36.34 | 39.20 / 35.00 APEXSPINN | 2.01 | 49.32 | Vol. 24000 D: 64.50 ⇓ 0.31% | 64.17 | 67.50 / 62.40 C: 66.00 ⇓ 26.67% | 66.00 | 66.00 / 66.00 SAFKOSPINN | 0.95 | 21.78 | Vol. 794390 D: 22.90 ⇑ 0.88% | 22.86 | 24.70 / 20.70 C: 22.90 ⇑ 0.88% | 22.89 | 24.20 / 22.00 SQUARETEXT | 4.32 | 31.82 | Vol. 355254 D: 89.20 ⇓ 0.34% | 89.46 | 91.40 / 83.00 C: 88.90 ⇓ 0.89% | 89.03 | 91.00 / 88.20 METROSPIN | 0.62 | 19.48 | Vol. 3486696 D: 18.80 ⇑ 18.99% | 18.81 | 19.40 / 15.00 C: 18.50 ⇑ 17.09% | 18.64 | 19.50 / 15.70 MAKSONSPIN | 0.16 | 20.55 | Vol. 9062080 D: 16.10 ⇑ 6.62% | 16.30 | 17.60 / 14.00 C: 16.10 ⇑ 6.62% | 16.33 | 17.10 / 15.20 DACCADYE | 1.21 | 31.13 | Vol. 1756228 D: 28.00 ⇑ 8.11% | 27.72 | 28.60 / 24.50 C: 28.00 ⇑ 7.69% | 27.69 | 28.80 / 25.70 RNSPIN | 2.80 | 16.58 | Vol. 9309219 D: 29.30 ⇑ 5.78% | 29.61 | 30.20 / 27.00 C: 29.40 ⇑ 6.52% | 29.53 | 31.00 / 27.70 BXSYNTH | 0.93 | 25.42 | Vol. 3405448 D: 15.10 ⇑ 0.67% | 15.50 | 18.00 / 13.90 C: 15.30 ⇑ 1.32% | 15.48 | 17.80 / 14.90 MALEKSPIN | 2.81 | 43.48 | Vol. 13894947 D: 29.50 ⇑ 18.00% | 29.58 | 30.40 / 24.00 C: 29.60 ⇑ 20.33% | 29.39 | 30.00 / 24.50 ENVOYTEX | 3.26 | 39.26 | Vol. 14325210 D: 58.80 ⇑ 0.68% | 58.98 | 63.80 / 53.00 C: 58.80 ⇑ 1.03% | 58.96 | 63.50 / 52.70 ARGONDENIM | 1.89 | 38.86 | Vol. 11311920 D: 69.20 ⇑ 12.52% | 68.31 | 71.50 / 55.40 C: 68.40 ⇑ 11.58% | 67.74 | 70.60 / 62.80 FAMILYTEX | 3.72 | 14.68 | Vol. 2456000 D: 41.30 ⇑ 9.26% | 41.25 | 45.00 / 37.80 C: 40.40 ⇑ 6.32% | 40.72 | 44.90 / 38.00 PHARMACEUTICAL & CHEMICAL AMBEEPHA | 3.94 | 26.15 | Vol. 27260 D: 249.4 ⇑ 2.21% | 246.75 | 255.7 / 241.0 C: 247.0 ⇑ 0.82% | 247.78 | 253.9 / 230.0 BXPHARMA | 3.77 | 52.55 | Vol. 1479967 D: 43.50 ⇑ 8.48% | 42.90 | 45.00 / 37.00 C: 43.30 ⇑ 7.18% | 43.25 | 45.30 / 40.50 GLAXOSMITH | 20.25 | 123.32 | Vol. 7200 D: 954.7 ⇑ 3.77% | 968.80 | 980.0 / 875.0 ACI | -5.82 | 126.42 | Vol. 55246 D: 158.4 ⇑ 1.80% | 158.28 | 164.0 / 141.0 C: 155.3 ⇓ 2.33% | 155.28 | 163.0 / 150.0 RENATA | 33.57 | 138.83 | Vol. 23660 D: 713.5 ⇑ 2.57% | 712.90 | 729.0 / 690.1 RECKITTBEN | 27.16 | 78.89 | Vol. 850 D: 797.8 ⇑ 4.22% | 797.78 | 848.9 / 780.0 PHARMAID | 5.06 | 26.30 | Vol. 87900 D: 156.7 ⇓ 4.33% | 156.99 | 170.0 / 155.0 KOHINOOR | 9.52 | 10.49 | Vol. 6045 D: 374.2 ⇓ 15.97% | 374.33 | 420.0 / 368.0

IBNSINA | 3.44 | 34.02 | Vol. 267820 D: 95.20 ⇓ 0.94% | 94.95 | 102.0 / 88.00 C: 94.50 ⇓ 2.88% | 94.19 | 99.90 / 92.30 LIBRAINFU | 4.21 | 1567.59 | Vol. 7600 D: 414.0 ⇓ 3.36% | 414.00 | 415.0 / 380.0 ORIONINFU | 8.72 | 1.73 | Vol. 685600 D: 41.70 ⇑ 3.73% | 42.34 | 43.80 / 39.90 C: 42.50 ⇑ 4.42% | 42.50 | 43.10 / 40.50 SQURPHARMA | 6.93 | 37.18 | Vol. 1576193 D: 179.9 ⇑ 2.04% | 179.30 | 193.0 / 160.0 C: 179.1 ⇑ 1.70% | 178.58 | 180.0 / 160.0 IMAMBUTTON | -1.51 | 4.16 | Vol. 154000 D: 7.30 ⇓ 17.98% | 7.40 | 8.30 / 7.20 C: 7.20 ⇓ 13.25% | 7.20 | 9.00 / 7.00 KEYACOSMET | 1.55 | 21.54 | Vol. 4673341 D: 24.30 ⇑ 6.11% | 24.35 | 25.00 / 20.70 C: 24.30 ⇑ 6.11% | 24.32 | 25.00 / 23.00 BERGERPBL | 32.46 | 100.20 | Vol. 5600 D: 792.7 ⇓ 0.31% | 794.19 | 846.0 / 787.0 C: 770.1 ⇓ 7.02% | 770.10 | 770.1 / 770.1 ACIFORMULA | 3.33 | 38.08 | Vol. 123750 D: 72.00 ⇓ 4.89% | 72.11 | 76.50 / 70.00 C: 71.20 ⇓ 6.68% | 71.30 | 76.90 / 69.00 MARICO | 27.53 | 62.47 | Vol. 85100 D: 791.3 ⇑ 1.62% | 805.93 | 845.0 / 765.0 C: 793.0 ⇓ 0.55% | 802.99 | 850.0 / 791.5 BEACONPHAR | 0.04 | 12.01 | Vol. 4360495 D: 11.20 ⇓ 15.15% | 11.34 | 12.00 / 10.50 C: 11.30 ⇓ 16.91% | 11.33 | 12.00 / 10.00 ACTIVEFINE | 3.23 | 13.89 | Vol. 4264798 D: 93.40 ⇑ 3.09% | 93.21 | 95.00 / 81.60 C: 93.20 ⇑ 2.98% | 93.49 | 98.00 / 91.40 SALVOCHEM | 0.68 | 10.57 | Vol. 1575852 D: 19.00 ⇓ 2.06% | 19.24 | 20.20 / 17.30 C: 19.10 ⇓ 1.55% | 19.25 | 20.70 / 19.10 GHCL | 2.14 | 57.31 | Vol. 1250750 D: 47.60 ⇓ 3.45% | 47.98 | 51.80 / 47.30 C: 48.00 ⇓ 3.42% | 48.47 | 51.50 / 47.80 ORIONPHARM | 5.02 | 68.68 | Vol. 3342110 D: 56.10 ⇑ 6.25% | 56.64 | 60.00 / 48.00 C: 56.30 ⇑ 6.63% | 56.72 | 58.90 / 52.00 JMISMDL | 1.12 | 12.83 | Vol. 825500 D: 179.7 ⇓ 11.17% | 181.15 | 222.0 / 172.1 C: 179.9 ⇓ 11.03% | 182.05 | 219.9 / 174.5 CENTRALPHL | 1.62 | 12.24 | Vol. 2214500 D: 28.10 ⇓ 10.22% | 28.22 | 31.80 / 26.90 C: 28.00 ⇓ 11.11% | 28.12 | 32.90 / 26.60 PAPER & PACKAGING HAKKANIPUL | 0.64 | 11.02 | Vol. 124000 D: 25.00 ⇓ 10.39% | 25.00 | 30.60 / 24.50 C: 25.00 ⇓ 7.06% | 25.00 | 29.50 / 24.60 SERVICE SAMORITA | 2.31 | 17.25 | Vol. 112594 D: 86.50 ⇓ 5.98% | 86.50 | 96.50 / 83.10 C: 94.70 ⇑ 5.22% | 90.00 | 97.00 / 90.00 SAPORTL | 1.23 | 38.39 | Vol. 1449404 D: 26.00 ⇓ 2.99% | 26.14 | 28.10 / 25.00 C: 26.20 ⇓ 2.24% | 26.27 | 27.70 / 26.00 EHL | 2.87 | 18.48 | Vol. 1026653 D: 49.80 ⇓ 2.16% | 49.94 | 52.60 / 45.00 C: 49.90 ⇓ 1.77% | 49.96 | 52.80 / 49.50 LEATHER APEXTANRY | 6.57 | 69.38 | Vol. 285400 D: 107.8 ⇓ 1.10% | 107.83 | 113.0 / 103.2 C: 106.0 ⇓ 2.66% | 108.55 | 110.2 / 103.5 BATASHOE | 49.12 | 135.53 | Vol. 50539 D: 702.0 ⇑ 5.11% | 710.99 | 729.0 / 660.0 C: 680.0 ⇑ 3.01% | 680.00 | 680.0 / 680.0

APEXADELFT | 23.01 | 203.26 | Vol. 472400 D: 383.8 ⇑ 6.61% | 389.43 | 397.0 / 355.0 C: 357.3 ⇑ 2.09% | 357.25 | 358.0 / 355.0 SAMATALETH | -0.07 | 12.08 | Vol. 14500 D: 12.90 ⇑ 3.20% | 13.00 | 13.00 / 12.50 C: 12.20 ⇓ 0.81% | 12.20 | 13.40 / 12.20 LEGACYFOOT | 0.63 | 17.19 | Vol. 1866125 D: 31.50 ⇓ 11.76% | 31.11 | 38.50 / 28.20 C: 31.70 ⇓ 11.20% | 31.27 | 38.00 / 28.70 CERAMIC MONNOCERA | 0.71 | 96.33 | Vol. 224462 D: 32.80 ⇑ 0.31% | 32.79 | 36.60 / 30.00 C: 32.30 ⇓ 2.12% | 32.42 | 35.80 / 32.30 STANCERAM | 1.07 | 15.97 | Vol. 26500 D: 36.90 ⇓ 5.87% | 37.00 | 39.20 / 36.10 C: 38.00 ⇓ 14.61% | 38.00 | 38.00 / 38.00 FUWANGCER | 0.72 | 13.97 | Vol. 1627950 D: 17.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 18.01 | 19.50 / 16.30 C: 18.30 ⇑ 1.67% | 17.95 | 19.40 / 17.80 SPCERAMICS | 0.62 | 30.92 | Vol. 2359711 D: 15.60 ⇑ 1.96% | 15.82 | 17.80 / 14.40 C: 15.70 ⇑ 1.29% | 15.76 | 18.20 / 15.30 RAKCERAMIC | 1.98 | 16.76 | Vol. 890215 D: 49.70 ⇑ 3.54% | 49.88 | 52.00 / 45.00 C: 50.00 ⇑ 4.60% | 49.50 | 51.00 / 46.00 CEMENT HEIDELBCEM | 22.85 | 111.50 | Vol. 367330 D: 369.3 ⇑ 4.68% | 369.75 | 376.0 / 344.0 C: 368.0 ⇑ 3.40% | 370.64 | 373.5 / 343.0 CONFIDCEM | 6.23 | 90.76 | Vol. 747123 D: 125.1 ⇑ 10.03% | 125.85 | 128.0 / 110.0 C: 125.1 ⇑ 9.64% | 125.49 | 128.0 / 115.7 MEGHNACEM | 6.28 | 33.81 | Vol. 410500 D: 121.6 ⇑ 1.93% | 123.34 | 125.7 / 116.1 C: 127.2 ⇑ 8.44% | 127.20 | 128.0 / 116.1 ARAMITCEM | 3.03 | 14.65 | Vol. 244555 D: 66.30 ⇓ 0.60% | 66.60 | 68.80 / 62.00 C: 69.90 ⇑ 2.19% | 67.43 | 70.00 / 65.00 LAFSURCEML | 1.60 | 7.22 | Vol. 2891000 D: 30.90 ⇓ 2.22% | 31.06 | 32.00 / 30.80 C: 31.00 ⇓ 1.90% | 31.19 | 32.20 / 31.00 MICEMENT | 4.48 | 37.67 | Vol. 1026660 D: 89.70 ⇑ 0.45% | 89.79 | 95.00 / 82.00 C: 90.20 ⇑ 1.23% | 91.15 | 93.00 / 82.00 PREMIERCEM | 5.00 | 32.60 | Vol. 907600 D: 103.0 ⇑ 1.28% | 103.71 | 109.9 / 97.10 C: 101.1 ⇑ 0.60% | 101.66 | 108.0 / 100.0 IT IINDUSTRIES ISNLTD | 0.28 | 17.31 | Vol. 702337 D: 15.80 ⇓ 14.13% | 15.66 | 19.30 / 15.50 C: 15.90 ⇓ 13.11% | 15.74 | 19.30 / 15.60 BDCOM | 1.54 | 15.85 | Vol. 1333755 D: 23.70 ⇓ 7.42% | 23.81 | 26.60 / 21.50 C: 23.30 ⇓ 8.63% | 23.30 | 26.90 / 22.50 INTECH | 0.94 | 10.08 | Vol. 1312172 D: 14.70 ⇓ 5.16% | 14.67 | 16.20 / 14.20 C: 14.90 ⇓ 3.87% | 14.71 | 16.40 / 14.50 AGNISYSL | 1.06 | 16.39 | Vol. 1168549 D: 21.20 ⇑ 0.47% | 21.19 | 21.80 / 19.50 C: 21.50 ⇑ 1.90% | 21.17 | 22.00 / 20.70 DAFODILCOM | 1.12 | 11.14 | Vol. 1357903 D: 16.50 ⇓ 0.60% | 16.61 | 17.50 / 15.80 C: 16.60 ⇓ 0.60% | 16.58 | 17.40 / 16.30 AAMRATECH | 1.46 | 21.90 | Vol. 1731295 D: 31.70 ⇑ 7.82% | 32.03 | 32.60 / 26.50 C: 31.80 ⇑ 8.53% | 31.80 | 32.50 / 29.00

GENERAL INSURANCE BGIC | 1.65 | 20.33 | Vol. 265251 D: 29.40 ⇑ 5.00% | 29.35 | 30.30 / 26.00 C: 29.40 ⇑ 5.00% | 29.40 | 29.50 / 28.10 GREENDELT | 4.05 | 64.44 | Vol. 365050 D: 77.60 ⇓ 12.02% | 78.71 | 99.00 / 75.50 C: 76.70 ⇓ 15.81% | 76.68 | 95.00 / 76.50 UNITEDINS | 2.47 | 21.04 | Vol. 19500 D: 43.30 ⇑ 3.10% | 43.33 | 43.90 / 42.00 PEOPLESINS | 2.05 | 20.72 | Vol. 1373409 D: 33.40 ⇑ 11.71% | 33.34 | 35.00 / 30.10 C: 33.40 ⇑ 0.60% | 33.75 | 34.90 / 30.50 EASTERNINS | 2.22 | 35.88 | Vol. 142003 D: 39.10 ⇑ 4.27% | 37.95 | 40.70 / 35.00 C: 40.10 ⇑ 6.93% | 40.13 | 41.80 / 35.00 JANATAINS | 7.84 | 170.69 | Vol. 37273 D: 244.3 ⇑ 1.35% | 245.70 | 256.0 / 232.0 C: 243.8 ⇑ 3.15% | 243.69 | 254.5 / 240.0 PHENIXINS | 2.70 | 20.96 | Vol. 121966 D: 40.50 ⇑ 0.50% | 40.73 | 42.00 / 37.90 C: 41.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 41.00 | 41.00 / 41.00 EASTLAND | 4.06 | 23.29 | Vol. 467034 D: 48.20 ⇑ 7.11% | 47.60 | 49.00 / 42.00 C: 48.30 ⇑ 8.05% | 47.87 | 48.30 / 45.00 CENTRALINS | 1.54 | 19.04 | Vol. 112164 D: 28.80 ⇑ 3.23% | 29.52 | 30.50 / 26.50 C: 28.00 ⇓ 1.75% | 28.00 | 28.00 / 28.00 KARNAPHULI | 1.56 | 19.42 | Vol. 323016 D: 23.50 ⇑ 6.33% | 23.45 | 24.00 / 21.00 RUPALIINS | 2.76 | 23.38 | Vol. 476482 D: 32.70 ⇑ 6.86% | 32.47 | 32.90 / 30.00 C: 32.20 ⇑ 5.92% | 32.20 | 32.20 / 30.70 FEDERALINS | 1.10 | 10.98 | Vol. 1123396 D: 23.80 ⇑ 7.69% | 23.84 | 24.50 / 20.50 C: 24.00 ⇑ 9.59% | 23.83 | 25.20 / 22.00 RELIANCINS | 3.93 | 61.52 | Vol. 18041 D: 69.90 ⇑ 1.90% | 69.90 | 71.00 / 67.00 PURABIGEN | 1.05 | 18.71 | Vol. 570849 D: 21.90 ⇑ 5.80% | 21.71 | 22.60 / 20.00 PRAGATIINS | 2.01 | 50.30 | Vol. 398862 D: 58.50 ⇑ 10.38% | 52.60 | 59.00 / 49.70 C: 55.30 ⇑ 8.43% | 55.33 | 56.00 / 51.50 PRIMEINSUR | 2.14 | 14.14 | Vol. 129750 D: 32.50 ⇑ 8.33% | 32.32 | 33.00 / 30.00 C: 31.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 31.00 | 31.00 / 31.00 PIONEERINS | 3.11 | 23.84 | Vol. 130000 D: 68.10 ⇑ 5.58% | 68.33 | 69.10 / 65.00 MERCINS | 1.53 | 14.50 | Vol. 530189 D: 27.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 27.61 | 29.10 / 25.20 C: 28.00 ⇓ 3.45% | 29.04 | 28.00 / 28.00 AGRANINS | 1.73 | 14.39 | Vol. 314862 D: 26.50 ⇓ 0.75% | 26.68 | 28.70 / 26.00 GLOBALINS | 1.09 | 11.78 | Vol. 276403 D: 28.10 ⇑ 2.18% | 28.17 | 30.20 / 27.00 NITOLINS | 2.59 | 15.41 | Vol. 59420 D: 35.00 ⇑ 2.64% | 35.00 | 36.20 / 31.00 ASIAPACINS | 1.84 | 13.76 | Vol. 74210 D: 28.70 ⇑ 2.87% | 28.78 | 29.20 / 27.50 C: 29.70 ⇑ 8.00% | 29.67 | 30.00 / 27.50 SONARBAINS | 1.68 | 13.38 | Vol. 298017 D: 23.90 ⇑ 3.02% | 23.94 | 25.10 / 22.00 C: 24.00 ⇓ 2.83% | 23.33 | 25.00 / 23.00 PARAMOUNT | 1.26 | 13.19 | Vol. 209190 D: 23.60 ⇓ 1.26% | 23.76 | 24.80 / 22.00 C: 24.10 ⇑ 3.43% | 24.10 | 24.40 / 23.40 CITYGENINS | 1.65 | 14.26 | Vol. 351256 D: 29.00 ⇑ 9.43% | 28.98 | 29.40 / 26.00 C: 29.00 ⇑ 7.41% | 28.65 | 29.20 / 27.50 CONTININS | 1.41 | 15.68 | Vol. 1244793 D: 29.90 ⇑ 1.36% | 29.61 | 30.90 / 28.00 C: 30.10 ⇑ 2.38% | 29.59 | 30.90 / 27.00 TAKAFULINS | 2.19 | 15.17 | Vol. 4964683 D: 44.70 ⇓ 8.02% | 43.29 | 55.00 / 40.00 C: 42.60 ⇓ 11.25% | 42.60 | 49.90 / 42.60 STANDARINS | 2.58 | 13.99 | Vol. 273504 D: 39.30 ⇓ 0.25% | 39.35 | 42.80 / 38.00 C: 39.00 ⇓ 2.50% | 39.00 | 42.00 / 38.00 NORTHRNINS | 1.77 | 11.15 | Vol. 621133 D: 43.40 ⇓ 0.91% | 42.37 | 45.00 / 38.00 C: 42.50 ⇑ 1.19% | 42.50 | 45.90 / 41.00 REPUBLIC | 2.14 | 12.42 | Vol. 3425428 D: 43.70 ⇑ 10.35% | 42.24 | 43.70 / 37.00 C: 43.70 ⇑ 8.98% | 43.72 | 44.50 / 39.40 ASIAINS | 1.56 | 17.34 | Vol. 242475 D: 27.30 ⇑ 4.60% | 27.12 | 28.20 / 24.80 C: 27.20 ⇑ 4.21% | 27.11 | 27.80 / 25.60

ISLAMIINS | 1.29 | 11.96 | Vol. 47711 D: 32.30 ⇓ 1.82% | 32.36 | 35.00 / 30.00 PROVATIINS | 1.90 | 14.30 | Vol. 175451 D: 28.30 ⇑ 1.80% | 28.33 | 30.50 / 26.00 C: 27.80 ⇓ 0.36% | 27.80 | 29.00 / 26.10 DHAKAINS | 2.84 | 18.02 | Vol. 318500 D: 39.10 ⇑ 3.17% | 39.29 | 40.00 / 35.00 C: 38.50 ⇑ 1.32% | 38.50 | 38.70 / 38.50 LIFE INSURANCE NATLIFEINS | 12.34 | 80.99 | Vol. 26047 D: 240.7 ⇑ 1.39% | 240.98 | 245.0 / 220.0 C: 240.0 ⇑ 0.42% | 240.00 | 248.0 / 240.0 DELTALIFE | 38.53 | 189.40 | Vol. 70584 D: 225.8 ⇓ 94.88% | 225.80 | 4770 / 225.8 C: 228.3 ⇓ 94.99% | 228.30 | 4812 / 228.3 MEGHNALIFE | 10.82 | 48.87 | Vol. 160530 D: 101.0 ⇑ 8.14% | 100.13 | 102.0 / 90.00 C: 98.00 ⇑ 2.51% | 97.82 | 99.90 / 95.00 PROGRESLIF | 2.30 | 31.45 | Vol. 39500 D: 102.8 ⇑ 6.31% | 101.80 | 104.1 / 90.30 PRAGATILIF | 0.60 | 30.15 | Vol. 176164 D: 114.9 ⇑ 10.91% | 111.79 | 115.0 / 100.0 PRIMELIFE | 5.51 | 27.10 | Vol. 95616 D: 92.40 ⇑ 3.24% | 91.84 | 93.20 / 81.00 C: 93.00 ⇑ 6.77% | 93.00 | 93.00 / 87.60 RUPALILIFE | 3.75 | 31.25 | Vol. 245287 D: 97.70 ⇑ 8.08% | 95.10 | 99.70 / 85.00 PADMALIFE | 1.63 | 25.76 | Vol. 321290 D: 58.40 ⇑ 6.76% | 57.57 | 59.50 / 51.00 C: 58.00 ⇑ 7.21% | 57.93 | 60.00 / 50.00 SUNLIFEINS | 0.00 | 0.00 | Vol. 618675 D: 55.80 ⇑ 4.69% | 55.13 | 56.50 / 48.00 C: 55.30 ⇑ 4.93% | 54.91 | 56.00 / 51.00 TELECOM GP | 12.96 | 26.26 | Vol. 1880920 D: 192.0 ⇑ 7.87% | 190.10 | 193.9 / 184.2 C: 191.5 ⇑ 7.22% | 190.23 | 193.6 / 184.0 BSCCL | 5.82 | 26.38 | Vol. 2373910 D: 170.6 ⇓ 4.48% | 167.87 | 191.5 / 162.2 C: 170.0 ⇓ 4.82% | 168.28 | 194.0 / 162.3 TRAVEL & LEISURE UNITEDAIR | 1.10 | 12.87 | Vol. 22226148 D: 16.00 ⇑ 7.38% | 16.26 | 16.60 / 14.00 C: 16.10 ⇑ 6.62% | 16.18 | 16.70 / 15.00 UNIQUEHRL | 4.02 | 86.29 | Vol. 1823500 D: 76.30 ⇓ 1.80% | 76.65 | 83.20 / 70.00 C: 76.90 ⇓ 0.90% | 77.19 | 84.00 / 76.20 MISCELLANEOUS ARAMIT | 16.07 | 99.93 | Vol. 76700 D: 264.2 ⇑ 0.53% | 264.52 | 280.0 / 243.0 C: 260.7 ⇓ 7.22% | 260.74 | 261.1 / 260.0 BSC | 1.77 | 565.82 | Vol. 309670 D: 410.8 ⇓ 1.68% | 410.15 | 436.0 / 406.0 C: 412.3 ⇓ 1.56% | 411.95 | 436.0 / 405.0 GQBALLPEN | 6.55 | 250.45 | Vol. 180202 D: 137.1 ⇓ 1.86% | 136.18 | 146.0 / 130.1 C: 136.3 ⇓ 2.92% | 136.76 | 154.0 / 135.4 USMANIAGL | 3.80 | 29.92 | Vol. 201813 D: 118.2 ⇓ 5.52% | 117.17 | 126.0 / 112.0 C: 119.2 ⇓ 3.95% | 118.73 | 125.0 / 112.3 SAVAREFR | 0.14 | 10.57 | Vol. 2100 D: 50.10 ⇓ 24.09% | 50.43 | 61.00 / 48.40 BEXIMCO | 3.24 | 86.74 | Vol. 18520135 D: 29.10 ⇑ 10.23% | 30.79 | 34.70 / 24.00 C: 29.40 ⇑ 11.36% | 30.53 | 34.60 / 26.20 SINOBANGLA | 1.75 | 21.01 | Vol. 508500 D: 20.20 ⇓ 0.49% | 20.31 | 21.60 / 20.00 C: 20.00 ⇓ 1.48% | 20.03 | 22.00 / 19.90 MIRACLEIND | 0.10 | 15.13 | Vol. 786036 D: 14.10 ⇓ 4.08% | 14.38 | 15.30 / 13.00 C: 14.10 ⇓ 4.08% | 14.19 | 15.00 / 13.60 BOND IBBLPBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 465 D: 960.5 ⇑ 0.55% | 960.66 | 982.0 / 955.0 ACIZCBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 124 D: 881.5 ⇑ 0.11% | 881.50 | 900.0 / 876.0 C: 871.0 ⇓ 1.02% | 871.00 | 880.0 / 871.0 BRACSCBOND | 0.00 | 0.00 | Vol. 90 D: 1030 ⇑ 2.18% | 1030 | 1030 / 990.0 C: 1050 ⇑ 0.00% | 1050 | 1050 / 1050

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Amazon tries free delivery in India n Reuters, Bangalore Free shipping on a 100 rupee book. Delivery times guaranteed to the minute.

These are some of the incentives the world’s biggest online retailer Amazon.com Inc is using to entice Indians to shop on the web, a sector where growth has been stifled by payment problems, low Internet usage and a challenging logistics environment.

Amazon’s investors are counting on its international business and expansion to help drive growth and support its $165bn market value, one of the highest among US firms.

India is Amazon’s third emerging market investment after Brazil and China, and one Vice President and Country Manager Amit Agarwal said would take time to pay off.

Most Indians do not own a credit card, and less than half the 152 million Internet users have shopped online. Then there are the bad roads, the snarled bureaucracy and the petty bribery that greases business.

The potential, however, is vast.

Online retail sales in India are forecast to grow more than a hundred-fold to $76bn by 2021 from just $600m at the end of 2012, retail consultants Technopak said. E-tail sales in China, by comparison, are expected to grow to $650bn by 2020 from around $200bn in 2012, consultants McKinsey predict.

“A lot of invention is required to capture the potential of this market and our focus is to build this,” said Agarwal, who returned to India to head Amazon’s business after 14 years with the company in the United States.

“We are going through a lot of trial-and-error to fix problems on the ground,” he told Reuters at Amazon’s India office in the technology hub of Bangalore.

Convincing Indians to click

Indians, on average, spend between $24 and $35 per online transaction, a figure dwarfed by the $150-$160 spent by US shoppers online per transaction, according to data from US based analysts comScore and Retail Decisions.

Agarwal spent two years advising Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos at the company’s Seattle headquarters, and believes Amazon’s long-term strategy will work in India like it did in the United States, where the company ran up losses for years.

“Right now we are focused on giving customers great service and making sure they shop more,” he added, sitting behind a large

A zoomed illustration image of a man looking at a computer monitor showing the logo of Amazon is seen in Vienna REUTERS desk that he brought back with him from Seattle.

Amazon’s biggest local rival is Flipkart, set up by two ex-Amazon employees in 2007 and which has yet to turn a profit.

Since July, Flipkart has raised $360m from investors that include South Africa’s Naspers Limited. It said it aims to have $1bn in sales by 2015.

Agarwal would not give any forecasts or figures, but said Amazon’s investments in India have a 7 to 10 year horizon.

He said Amazon was building its own logistics network, which it can leverage when the rules change and it can sell directly to consumers. Indian regulations now prevent international e-tailers from making direct sales.

Made for India

Amazon’s initial entry into India was through the 2012 launch of Junglee.com, a price comparison site that gave it insight on what consumers want to buy and are willing to pay.

Amazon’s India website, set up in June, is currently a market place for other vendors, in line with regulations.

Amazon is working with these local ven-

dors to ensure goods are packaged properly to speed up delivery, Agarwal said. It is also training local couriers to make good on its promised delivery times in Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai.

“We receive items from sellers in all kinds of situations. Most of them are not packed properly, stickered properly and that increases the delivery time,” Agarwal said.

“Even if you go to really large sellers they don’t know how to describe their item because they have never had to have a digital catalogue.”

An unstable Internet banking system means online payments often fail, frustrating buyers and leading to abandoned purchases. Agarwal said Amazon uses a madefor-India system that keeps orders active and allows the customer to try again. The option of cash on delivery is also offered.

To avoid shipments getting stuck at toll booths or held up by police demanding bribes, Amazon gets all the permissions and documents required, as well as extra permits, just in case.

“We are not cutting corners. It is taking a longer time to build things but compliance is important and that takes care of blockages on the road to a large extent,” Agarwal added. l

Instagram starts showing ads n AFP, San Francisco Instagram began displaying ads Friday, as Facebook moved to start making money from the smartphone photo sharing service it bought in a billion-dollar deal last year.

The first ad to pop up was a sponsored photo of a Michael Kors ladies' watch, artfully displayed on a table set elegantly for coffee and biscuits.

The caption read "Pampered in Paris."

"Michael Kors ran the first ad on Instagram this morning, targeting women in the

US in a certain age range," Instagram said in reply to an AFP inquiry.

The image had garnered more than 181,000 "likes" by late Friday, along with some bitter remarks from Instagram users.

US Instagram users will see the ad even if they aren't followers of the Michael Kors brand at the service. Instagram has about 150 million active users, Facebook executives said in a conference call on Wednesday to discuss earnings in the recently-ended quarter.

Facebook is carefully adding magazine-quality photo ads to Instagram as it

hopes to bring in revenue from the service without alienating users.

Instagram said its opening roster of advertisers included Adidas, Lexus, PayPal, Burberry and Ben & Jerry's ice cream.

Facebook on Wednesday reported stellar quarterly earnings results, but told analysts that internal metrics indicated that teenagers may be falling out of love with the social network. The world's leading online social network reported profit of $425m in the quarter that ended on September 30, compared with a loss a year earlier. l

Obama to Congress: end ‘manufactured crises’ n AFP, Washington President Barack Obama yesterday called for an end to “manufactured crises and self-inflicted wounds” as he urged Republicans and Democrats in Congress to approve a new federal budget.

Obama, speaking in his weekly radio address, said that what most people hear out of Washington is “a jumble of unfocused noise that’s out of touch with the things you care about.

“So today, I want to cut through that noise and talk plainly about what we should do right now,” he said.

“It begins by ending what has done more than anything else to undermine our economy over the past few years - and that’s the constant cycle of manufactured crises and self-inflicted wounds.”

Obama spoke a little more than two weeks after the United States scraped through a bitter budget and debt ceiling battle that threatened to send the country into default and forced the 16-day partial federal government shutdown, but only by using stop-gap measures that pushed the battle deadlines forward.

If a fresh budget deal is not found by January 15, when the temporary funding expires, a new round of automatic spending cuts will hit.

Obama said Congress should “pass a budget that cuts things we don’t need, and closes wasteful tax loopholes that don’t help create jobs, so that we can free up resources for the things that actually do create jobs and growth.”

It begins by ending what has done more than anything else to undermine our economy over the past few years - and that’s the constant cycle of manufactured crises and self-inflicted wounds The president also had something to boast about, noting that this week “the Treasury confirmed that since I took office, we’ve cut our deficits by more than half.”

The US deficit for the fiscal year 2013, which ended September 30, stood at 4.1% of gross domestic product, the Treasury Department announced Wednesday.

The deficit-to-GDP ratio was 7% in 2012 after hitting more than 10% in 2009, when the government was spending heavily to counter the worst recession in decades.

But the deficit reduction is largely related to the onerous automatic cuts known as the sequestration.

In the absence of a budget agreement between Republicans and Democrats, federal spending has been slashed in blunt, massive cuts since March.

Conceived in mid-2011 during the previous debt ceiling crisis, the spending cuts were to be an unthinkable option that would force the two sides to strike a deal.

But a compromise did not materialize ahead of the deadline.

The result was that public spending fell two percent, notably in defense and education. l